Church schools in Malta and Gozo are leading 24 Erasmus+ projects with a combined investment of around €1 million, providing international learning and mobility opportunities for more than 600 students, teachers and educational staff, the Ministry for European Funds said in a statement.
The figures were announced during the Celebrating Success, Inspiring New Beginnings event organised by the Secretariat for Catholic Education to showcase the experiences and outcomes of Church schools participating in Erasmus+ and other European funding programmes.
More than 50 Church schools across Malta and Gozo have received support through these programmes. Church schools educate around one-third of students across the Maltese Islands.
There are currently 82 Erasmus+ projects underway in Malta, with Church schools responsible for 24 of them. The projects include training and job-shadowing opportunities for educators, student mobility programmes, and collaborative initiatives involving European schools and organisations.
The event also highlighted the role of Maltese schools as hosts for educators and students from other countries, allowing European cooperation to become a two-way exchange of knowledge, experience and good practice.
Minister for European Funds Keith Azzopardi Tanti said the results achieved by Church schools reflected a commitment to quality education, internationalisation and pedagogical innovation.
He also pointed to the 11 Church schools that are currently accredited under the Erasmus+ programme, describing this as an indication that more schools are recognising the opportunities offered through European cooperation.
The Minister encouraged schools that have not yet applied for or benefited from Erasmus+ to participate, with the aim of extending these opportunities to more students, educators and school communities.
Director General of the Secretariat for Catholic Education Ian Mifsud said Erasmus+ was strengthening Church schools through international partnerships, professional development and mobility, while also promoting the value of communion within Catholic education.
Head of Secretariat for Catholic Education Rev. Mark Ellul said the projects were creating opportunities for pupils and educators to learn, collaborate and develop through European partnerships. He highlighted inclusion, innovation, professional development and the exchange of good practice as key benefits.
Meanwhile, European Union Programmes Agency Chief Executive Officer Raphael Scerri urged schools that have not yet participated to view Erasmus+ as more than a funding opportunity.
He described the programme as a way for schools to open new avenues for learning, establish European partnerships and help prepare students for the future. Scerri also encouraged schools to begin preparing for the next Erasmus+ call, expected in February 2027.
The event underlined the role of European funding in supporting international mobility, professional development and collaboration within Malta's education sector, with Erasmus+ continuing to provide opportunities for students, educators and school communities in Malta and Gozo.