The right to education in Malta : raising the bar

Abstract

Malta, as an EU Member State since 2004, and as an independent nation state founded on work and on respect for fundamental human rights since 1964, is signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to the European Convention on Human Rights, and is al.so affected by the Treaty of Lisbon of 2009 whereby the Charter of Rights of the European Union, drafted ten years earlier, rose from a mere declaration of principles to an enforceable instrument. These instruments all include the so called 'Right to Education' which in fact translates into a right of access to education. In Malta we enjoy a right of access not only to primary education, but also to secondary and tertiary education as well; these are all provided free of charge by the State of Malta, apart from what is provided by the private sector. The question being put in this brief article is, whether there is room for improvement in the Maltese legal system, that is whether there is still scope for pushing the boundary further, raising the bar, raising standards, where the right to education is concerned.