Education and Schools in Malta

As a former British colony, Malta’s education system takes its cue from its former parent country and will be familiar to many expats. Malta's education system consists of the public and private sectors. 

School is compulsory for children between the ages of five and 16, though most continue to age 18. Education is divided into four stages: kindergarten, primary, secondary and post-secondary.

Expat parents who want their children to learn a globally recognised curriculum will be pleased to find that Malta has a number of international schools.

Public schools in Malta

Public education in Malta is free for all children living in Malta. Up to the age of seven, teaching is in both Maltese and English, with the aim of facilitating bilingualism in children at an early age. Beyond this point, the language of instruction in public schools is mainly Maltese, though some English is also used. The primary language used can also vary from school to school.

If children are young enough to grasp a new language and can be enrolled in the bilingual programme, attending public school is a fantastic opportunity for cultural assimilation for expat families looking to stay in Malta long term.

An induction programme, run by the Migrant Learners' Unit, is available for foreign students who aren't able to speak Maltese and English.

Useful links

• Ministry for Education
• Migrant Learners' Unit – Induction Programme

Private schools in Malta

Private schools in Malta are either affiliated with the Catholic Church or are independent. They are all overseen by the Ministry for Education and, like state schools, offer the national curriculum. They typically use English as the language of instruction, which gives expat families an alternative to the primarily Maltese-language state schools.

Independent schools

Independent schools are considered better than state schools, and while the quality of the education is high, so are the costs. Tuition fees are far from cheap, and additional expenses, such as study materials and transport, are not included in the tuition.

Church schools

Church schools and their admission processes are overseen by the Secretariat for Catholic Education (SfCE).

By arrangement with the government, church schools in Malta do not charge tuition. However, parents are obligated to pay a set annual donation, although this is still well below the cost of private schools.

Spaces are limited, and students' eligibility for enrolment is determined by a tiered system, where meeting certain criteria allows higher priority for entry. 

Families need not follow a particular religion to send their children to church schools in Malta. Though these schools do include religious education, non-religious children may be exempt from these classes.

Useful links

• SfCE – Church Schools
• Malta Education Services – Independent Schools

International schools in Malta

Several English-language international schools cater for expat students in Malta, and they teach a range of curricula, including that of the International Baccalaureate as well as the US and UK. These education systems are widely offered around the globe in international schools, with the main advantage being an easier transition between schools.

International schools often have high standards, qualified teachers and excellent facilities, but expats naturally have to pay for this privilege. Fees can be exorbitant, and expat parents moving to Malta for work should negotiate for international school fees to be subsidised in their relocation package.

Useful links

• St Edward's College Malta
• QSI International School of Malta
• Haileybury Malta

Special educational needs in Malta

The Maltese government operates on a principle of inclusion concerning students with special education needs. The island has four schools for children with special needs, known as Resource Centres. Services offered include providing specialised support for Autism Spectrum Disorder, specialist teachers for children with hearing or visual impairments and running early intervention services.

Tutors in Malta

There isn't much of a tutoring culture in Malta yet, so options are limited. There are a few online tutor directories and some specialised tutors that handle particular subjects, such as maths.

Tutoring is a great way of giving newly arrived children a helping hand with aspects such as adjusting to a new curriculum, learning a new language, or maintaining fluency in their mother tongue. For the latter, online tutoring is ideal as it allows you to connect with first-language speakers back home.

Useful links

• Malta Tutors
• TrustedTutors
• Vella Bonello Education