Financing for equity in primary and secondary education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to schools
3. Education resources to students and families
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Introduction
In Malta, the financing and governance of education are highly centralised. The 2022 Education Act (Chapter 605) establishes that the Government finances education through the national budget, with funds allocated to the Ministry of Education. The Ministry directly manages the financing of state compulsory schools, covering operational costs, infrastructure development and maintenance, utilities, and learning resources such as textbooks, science and art supplies, examinations, and additional learning support. The Government also funds student transport between home and school when the distance exceeds one kilometre, applying equally to students in both state and non-state schools. All funds are centrally administered by the Ministry of Education.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
No financial mechanism transferring funds from the central government to local governments with equity considerations has been identified, owing to the highly centralised structure of Malta’s education financing system.
2. Education resources to schools
Equity-Based School Funding
The discretionary fund introduced in the 2022/23 academic year provides each state college with €100,000 to enable Heads of School to respond to the immediate needs of vulnerable learners. The fund supports assistance such as food provision, essential learning materials, transport top-ups, digital devices, and short-term psychosocial support. Its purpose is to ensure that no child under a school’s supervision lacks access to basic resources. The allocation formula considers both the total student population and the proportion of students from households qualifying under Scheme 9, which targets economically disadvantaged families.
3. Education resources to students and families
Scheme 9
Scheme 9, established in the 2016/17 academic year by the Ministry for Education in collaboration with the Ministry for Social Policy and Children’s Rights, provides in-kind support for pupils from socio-economic backgrounds facing disadvantage. Eligible students receive essentials such as uniforms, basic stationery, photocopies, free extra-curricular activities (including “SkolaSajf”, Klabb 3-16 after-school services, and sports programmes via SportMalta), and a free daily healthy school lunch. Since October 2022 the scheme has been extended so that eligible students may receive all the available assistance rather than choosing just one benefit. Under this extension, parents/guardians participating in Scheme 9 now also receive free age-appropriate reading books and, for some pupils, enhanced access to supports.
BM40
BM40, also established in the 2016/17 academic year by the Ministry for Education in collaboration with the Ministry for Social Policy and Children’s Rights, is intended for families in lower income brackets. It also provides in-kind assistance for educational essentials and supports that help reduce financial barriers to student participation in school life. The support typically includes school uniforms and PE kits, basic stationery and learning materials, exercise books and photocopying credits, and school bags and related essentials. The assistance is delivered in kind, and not as a cash allowance. Eligible families receive the items through the designated Ministry channels prior to the school year or on an as-needed basis during the year. BM40 forms part of Malta’s wider strategy to promote inclusion, educational participation, and equity by reducing out-of-pocket costs for low-income households.
Digital Inclusion for Vulnerable Children
To promote digital inclusion among socio-economically vulnerable students, Malta has implemented universal measures providing digital devices for learning. Since 2016, all pupils in Years 4–6, in both state and non-state schools, have received a tablet. From the 2023/24 academic year, this provision has been extended to Year 7 students, who now receive a laptop. These measures aim to reduce the digital skills gap and ensure that all students have equitable access to technology for learning.
Free School Transport
The Ministry of Education finances free school transport for any child living more than 1.0 km from their school, regardless of whether they attend state, church, or private institutions. Eligibility is determined solely based on distance, and all funding is centrally managed by the Ministry, ensuring equitable access to education across Malta.
4. Social policies and family support programmes
Child Benefit
The Child Benefit is a cash transfer administered by the Social Security Department within the Ministry for Social Policy and Children’s Rights, providing financial support to parents of children under 16. Established in 1974 as part of social security reforms, the programme has been progressively expanded, with key developments including a minimum rate increase in 2013, enhanced support for means-tested families in 2019, the introduction of a supplement for children under 16 in 2021, and a special yearly allowance for post-secondary students launched in 2024.
The benefit is means-tested. It is calculated based on the difference between €25,924 and the parents’ total income from the previous year. Families with income above €25,924 receive a flat €450 per child annually. Payments are issued every 13 weeks in advance. Eligible beneficiaries include Maltese, EU, and EEA citizens; children whose parents have permanent residency in Malta; third-country nationals with a valid permit and at least one employed parent; and children of refugees, asylum seekers (LN 320/2005), or temporarily protected minors (LN 131/2005). Families below the €25,924 threshold may also receive €8.66 per child per week until the child’s 21st birthday, provided the 16–21-year-old is in full-time education, does not receive a stipend, and is not employed except for summer work.
5. School meal programmes
The Breakfast Club, established in 2014, targets primary state school children with the aim of supporting nutritional and health outcomes. It provides in-school meals five days per week during the school year, including grains, cereals, legumes, pulses, nuts, dairy products, eggs, vegetables, fruits, and dairy milk, yogurt, and water. The programme specifically supports primary students in state schools whose parents are both employed or are full-time students themselves. Single parents who work or study full-time are also eligible. The programme follows Malta’s national school feeding policy and adheres to established national nutritional guidelines.
Milk and Fruit and Vegetable Scheme
Primary school students also benefit from the Milk Scheme and the Fruit and Vegetable Scheme, which provide portions of milk and portions of fruit or vegetables twice a week to support healthy nutrition.
Under Scheme 9, students from socio-economically and socio-culturally disadvantaged backgrounds receive a free daily lunch alongside essential items such as uniforms and stationery, complementing the broader nutrition and educational support provided through school feeding initiatives.
This profile has been reviewed by Professor Carmel Borg (University of Malta).
