As announced towards the end of September, laptops will be distributed to every Year 7 student, both in state and non-state schools, from today, who will receive a personal laptop as part of the One Device Per Child (ODPC) project, a €54 million initiative co-financed by national and European funds. The first phase (school year 2025/26) will be for students in Years 7, 8 and 9.
“This is a promise from the electoral manifesto that we are starting to fulfil today,” said the Minister for Education, Sports, Youth, Research and Innovation Clifton Grima, when this morning, together with the Minister for European Funds and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, they visited Maria Regina College in Naxxar where these laptops began to be distributed at the Naxxar Middle School.
Through this initiative, every secondary school student will receive a personal laptop along with access to high-quality digital resources. Educators will also benefit from ongoing training to effectively integrate digital tools into the classroom. This project represents a historic step towards bridging the digital divide and building a future-ready generation.
Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said that this project is an important step towards ensuring that every student has equal access to a modern and inclusive education. He explained that through European funds, the Government is investing in learning and equality of opportunities for future generations.
“With the One Device Per Child project we are delivering a vision that prepares our children for a digital society and for the jobs of the future. This investment not only addresses today’s needs but is building a foundation for a stronger and fairer education system for all,” concluded Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi.
The initiative has four main objectives: Improving access to education both at school and at home; promoting inclusive and high-quality learning for every student, regardless of their background or abilities; strengthening digital engagement and strengthening Malta’s educational transformation; and reducing the rate of early school leaving by strengthening their digital skills.
Minister Grima recalled that this is a much broader project through which an inclusive, interactive and innovative learning environment is being created that gives every student the opportunity to succeed in a digital world. Through technology, training and resources, the project supports the European Union’s Digital Education Action Plan and the National Education Strategy, while aligning Malta with the European goals for a digitally skilled and inclusive society.
In addition to laptops, the project also provides digital content with resources aligned with the curriculum, making learning more interactive and engaging. Care was taken to ensure that the devices include protection and filtering to create a safe digital learning environment.
This project highlights Malta’s commitment to providing the younger generation with the tools and opportunities needed to succeed in a world that is increasingly dependent on digital skills.
