Minister for European Funds, Social Dialogue and Consumer Protection Keith Azzopardi Tanti addressed the event Celebrating Success, Inspiring New Beginnings, organised by the Secretariat for Catholic Education to showcase the experiences and results achieved by Church schools through Erasmus+ and other funding programmes.
Through these programmes, more than 50 Church schools in Malta and Gozo, which educate around one-third of students across the Maltese Islands, have received support. There are currently 82 Erasmus+ projects underway in Malta, 24 of which are being led by Church schools, representing an investment of around €1 million. These projects will provide learning and mobility opportunities to more than 600 participants, including students, teachers and educational staff.
During the event, several experiences from schools that participated in Erasmus+ mobility projects were presented, including training and job-shadowing opportunities for educators, mobility opportunities for students, as well as collaborative projects with European schools and organisations. The event also highlighted how Maltese schools are hosting educators and students from other countries, ensuring that European cooperation becomes a two-way exchange of knowledge and experience.
Minister Keith Azzopardi Tanti praised the results achieved by Church schools, which he said reflect a clear commitment towards quality education, greater internationalisation and pedagogical innovation. He also welcomed the fact that there are now 11 Church schools accredited under the Erasmus+ programme, a result which demonstrates that more schools are recognising the value of European opportunities. The Minister encouraged those schools that have never applied for or benefited from Erasmus+ to take the next step so that more students, educators and school communities can benefit from these European funds.
Dr Ian Mifsud, Director General of the Secretariat for Catholic Education, highlighted that Erasmus+ strengthens Church schools through international partnerships, professional development and mobility, while promoting the value of communion within Catholic education.
The Head of Secretariat for Catholic Education, Rev Dr. Mark Ellul remarked, “Erasmus+ projects strengthen Church schools by creating opportunities for pupils and educators to learn, collaborate and grow. Through European partnerships, they promote inclusion, innovation, professional development and the exchange of good practice."
From the European Union Programmes Agency, Chief Executive Officer Mr Raphael Scerri encouraged those who have not yet participated to understand that Erasmus+ is not merely a funding programme, but an opportunity to open new doors to learning, build strong European partnerships, and provide our students with the best possible preparation for the future. “I hope to see more schools participating and beginning to prepare for the next call in February 2027," concluded Mr. Scerri.
This event reinforced the importance of European funds in creating concrete learning opportunities and clearly demonstrated how Erasmus+ will continue to be an important tool in supporting students, educators and school communities across Malta and Gozo.
