The Nationalist Party has called for national investment in education to improve after Eurostat findings showed that Malta is dedicating among the lowest proportions of its GDP, out of all EU countries, towards investments in the education sector.

The PN said on Wednesday that "Malta's economy has continued to grow in recent years, yet investment in education has failed to keep pace."

"This is not simply a lack of ambition: it is a political choice that is leaving our children, educators and schools behind," the PN said.

The Nationalist Party noted how, according to Eurostat, in 2023, Malta spent 4.1% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on education. This mark falls below the EU average of 4.7%.

In addition, a separate Eurostat statistic covering public expenditure from early childhood education through to tertiary education concluded that Malta was investing just 3.4% of its GDP towards this cause. This ranked as the third lowest rate in the EU, only ahead of Greece and Romania.

"Although education accounts for a relatively high share of total government spending, Malta still invests less in education, relative to the size of its economy, than the EU average," the PN said.

The Nationalist Party stated that "this is not a result we can accept" and believes that "if the economy has grown, investment in education should grow with it, not fall behind."

"Every euro not invested in schools, educators, student support and the quality of teaching is a missed opportunity for the next generation," the PN added.

In its statement, the PN questioned why the Maltese government isn't investing more of its wealth into children, educators, and schools.

The party called for a clear commitment to be made by allocating more resources towards educations; through a long-term plan for schools and educators; and by better supporting this sector through "investment that matches the country's ambitions," commenting that "Malta cannot continue to boast about economic growth while allowing education to lag behind."

"It is time for education to become a genuine national priority - not merely in words, but through government's budgetary choices and concrete action," the PN stated.

The statement was signed by the PN's Shadow Minister for Education and Citizenship, Jerome Caruana Cilia, as well as by its Shadow Minister for Finance, Adrian Delia.