In a press conference in B’Kara, Alternattiva Demokratika, the Green Party, discussed some of its proposals on youth and education, arguing that they should be based on social justice and social inclusion.

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson said "In parliament, AD will ensure that debate on education focuses on social justice and social inclusion, especially since Malta's levels of early school leavers, illiteracy and cross-class representation at post-secondary and tertiary levels remain low compared to the EU average".

Reuben Zammit, AD spokesperson for Youth, said, “A Youth Services Act is needed to enforce the regularization of all youth centres. Though youth centres should be allowed to retain their social identity, youths need to be safeguarded from discrimination on the basis of gender, belief, sexual orientation or ethnicity. Youth centres should also act as a platform where young people with disability can be socially included and feel part of a community.   In localities where a state-licensed youth centre is not present, the local council should be given all the necessary help to set up a new centre.”

Mario Mallia, AD Spokesperson for Education reiterated the need for students to feel more included in the educational process. He added that there is a “need for more efforts with regards to early intervention programmes, illiteracy and the strengthening of the CDAU so that educational problems are identified at an early stage as well more investment in ancillary services including family therapy and other services which support the family.” 

Mallia added that “AD also feels that our educational system seriously lacks policies on multiculturalism, gender as well as LGBT.  The absence of such policies means that there is no institutional provision with the consequence that everything depends on the will of individuals in schools.”

The AD Spokesperson for Education concluded by saying that “While AD welcomes the fact that the number of students in post-secondary education has increased, it feels that statistics about the number of students in post-secondary institutions who do not manage to complete their course, should be published.  Such statistics would help identify the reasons and the solutions for stopping this haemorrhage”.