Overview of the General Education System

A rich historical legacy of colonial influences and diverse cultural exchanges has shaped Malta’s education system. This birthed the country to have a multilingual, inclusive, and evolving system.

The central authority governing education is the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation (MEYR), which oversees the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education (DQSE). Education is provided by three types of schools namely the State, Church (mainly Catholic), and Independent schools. Church schools are subsidized by the state and do not charge tuition, while parents of students in independent schools receive tax rebates. The government ensures free education from early childhood to tertiary level in state institutions for all except non-EU/EAA students.

The structure of the education system includes early childhood education (from 3 months to 5 years), primary (ages 5–11), secondary (11–16), post-secondary (16–18), and tertiary education (18+). In 2022, the gross primary school enrollment rate was 93.53%, while the national literacy rate stood at 95.7% in 2021. The introduction of middle schools (ages 11–13) in 2014 aimed to foster smaller learning communities and enhance student-teacher relationships. Co-education has also been gradually introduced in secondary schools.

Moreover, Malta has implemented a strong inclusivity policy, ensuring that children with special educational needs are integrated into mainstream education. The system includes Individual Learning Programmes (IEPs), support from Learning Support Educators (LSEs), and specialized linguistic and ethics programmes.

Instruction in schools is bilingual, using both Maltese and English. English is the primary language of instruction at the University of Malta. Recent reforms have aimed to enhance equity and quality across the system, with a continued focus on expanding vocational pathways and enhancing accessibility to tertiary education.

Compulsory education in Malta spans from ages five to 16 and is divided into two major cycles: primary and secondary. The primary cycle lasts six years, from age five to 11. This is then followed by the secondary cycle, which includes two sub-levels: middle school (11–13 years) and secondary school (13–16 years). The structure ensures an 11-year compulsory education programme. The Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education (DQSE), under MEYR, is responsible for regulating and maintaining standards during this phase.

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) are not mandatory but are widely accessible. ECEC is offered for children from three months up to two years and nine months by both public and private providers. Since April 2014, families with both parents employed or studying full/part-time are entitled to free childcare services. Children aged two years and nine months to five years attend kindergarten, which is available in State, Church, and Independent Schools.

In primary school, students follow a broad curriculum including general and vocational topics. Streaming begins in the final two years, and Year 6 students undertake the National End of Primary Benchmark Assessment. This assessment helps determine readiness for secondary education.

Middle schools were introduced as a reform to promote closer-knit educational communities. By breaking secondary education into middle and secondary levels, the system seeks to personalize learning and prevent student disengagement. Students at the end of secondary school receive the Secondary School Certificate & Profile (SSC&P), recognizing both academic and non-formal learning. They may also sit for the Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) exams, which serve as prerequisites for many post-secondary programs.

Approximately 50% of children attend state schools, while 36% attend Church schools and 14% are enrolled in independent institutions. Parent involvement is actively encouraged throughout compulsory education.

Malta’s higher education system includes public and private institutions delivering qualifications from ISCED levels 5 to 8, aligned with the Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF). The leading institution is the University of Malta (UoM), located in Msida. It is the country’s only public university, serving around 11,000 students, including 650 international students from 77 countries. UoM offers a range of academic programs, from certificates to doctoral degrees, mostly in English.

Entry to first-cycle degrees (MQF Level 5/6) generally requires a qualification at MQF Level 4. For postgraduate (second- and third-cycle) studies, an undergraduate or master's degree is required, although mature students over 25 may be admitted under alternative criteria. University entry requires GCE Advanced Level (A-level) qualifications or their equivalent.

Other key institutions include the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST), which offers vocational degrees, and the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS), known for its hospitality programs. Tertiary education also includes courses delivered by foreign universities and private providers.

Accreditation and quality assurance fall under the National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE). Efforts are ongoing to broaden access and improve alignment with international standards.