Students and teachers in Malta and Gozo will not have to return to their desks on Monday 4th June, the day after Dun Ġorġ Preca’s canonization, since Minister for Education, Youths and Employment Louis Galea has declared the day a public holiday for all state, church and independent schools.

The Minister explained how a considerable number of teachers requested leave to be able to attend teh canonization ceremony to be held at the Vatican in Rome. In a bid to facilitate participation in the event, the day has been declared a public holiday following consultation with Prime Minister Dr. Lawrence Gonzi.

In turn the Minister reminded students that SEC and MATSEC exams, as well as all other exams of other boards, scheduled for the 4th June will still be held.

In turn, a number of students who intend to accompany Archbishop Paul Cremona on a trip to Australia will be financially assisted by the government. On Tuesday, the Archbishop invited youths to join him on a trip to Australia, granting them the chance to participate in 23rd World Youth Day (WYD) in Sydney and Melbourne between the 15th and 21st July

Minister Galea, along with the Prime Minister will be allocating the sum of Lm5,000 so that an equal number of young women and men, including two youths of each gender with special needs, will be able to react to the Archbishop’s invitation and join other youths and Pope Benedict XVI in the celebrations.

The youths’ section within the Ministry of Education, Youths and Employment will be making arrangements to administrate this aid to youths.

More details about the financial assistance are to be unveiled by the youths' section at a later date.

See also:
Youths invited to join Archbishop in Australia - Mar 27, 2007 - 3:19:53 PM