Forthcoming policy developments

At present, discussions are underway at national level on the potential development of mechanisms to formally recognise and accredit extracurricular activities, including non-formal education initiatives and youth work activities taking place within school settings.

The main objective of this potential reform is to strengthen the recognition of competences acquired outside formal classroom environments, particularly those linked to personal development, active citizenship and transversal skills. This reflects a broader policy direction towards valuing non-formal and informal learning within the education system.

While no formal legislative proposal has yet been adopted, these discussions indicate a possible future reform aimed at integrating extracurricular and youth work-based learning more systematically into national recognition frameworks. No specific timeframe for implementation has been publicly announced.

Ongoing debates

An ongoing national debate concerns the development of a Digital Education Strategy, led by the Ministry responsible for education (https://education.gov.mt), which is currently subject to public consultation.

The debate reflects the increasing importance of digital competence as a key skill for personal development, employability, active citizenship and social inclusion. Stakeholders widely recognise that rapid digital transformation requires education systems to adapt by equipping learners with both basic and advanced digital skills from an early age.

The consultation process focuses on four main pillars:

• nurturing digital global citizens, including promoting digital responsibility, inclusion and global awareness;
• empowering educators through training, support and access to digital tools;
• strengthening community engagement and partnerships, including collaboration with families, industry and local communities;
• enriching digital resources, ensuring accessibility, quality and innovation in digital learning materials.

Key issues under discussion include addressing digital divides, ensuring equitable access to digital education, enhancing teacher preparedness, promoting safe and ethical use of technology, and strengthening links between formal and informal learning environments.