Everything you need to know about schools in Malta

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Access to Malta’s first-class education system remains one of the most attractive benefits of residency or citizenship on the island.

Many of the families we guide through Malta’s MRVP and MIIP cite their children’s education as the primary reason for investing in the island. In this guide, we hope to answer any of the questions you might have about Malta’s education system. Allow us to illustrate why the island is considered one of the best places to educate your children.

Types of schools in Malta

Malta has four different types of schools.

State schools
Free to all students, state schools are dotted across Malta in many of the towns and villages. Transport to and from school, as well as books and other school materials, are free of charge.

Unlike some countries, Malta’s state-school system is highly regarded. The teaching is of the highest quality but some international students may struggle as Maltese tends to be the language used during lessons.

Church schools
The majority of church schools in Malta are owned by the Catholic Church. The schools do not charge tuition fees, but parents will be asked to give an annual donation to help with running costs.

International and private schools
Malta has many highly-regarded international and private schools. Tuition fees vary and all school materials, uniforms, and transport must be paid for.

Most of the international and private schools teach their lessons in English.

Specialist schools
Malta has four special-needs schools. Each of these schools has specialist teachers and equipment to cater for children with a wide-range of learning difficulties.

The Curriculums

Most schools in Malta follow the British curriculum. Children study a wide range of traditional and vocational subjects. There are four key stages:

Pre-primary: age 3 to 5
Primary: age 5 to 11
Secondary: age 11 to 18
Tertiary: 18+

Malta’s international schools teach a wide range of curriculums, most commonly American or British.

Languages: Maltese and English

Malta is a bilingual country and both Maltese and English are normally spoken on school and university campuses.

However, depending on the type of school, one language will be preferred. Generally Maltese is the preferred language at state, church and specialist schools, whereas English dominates at international and private schools.

Religion

The Catholic religion is taught at most schools, but religion lessons are not compulsory in Malta. Parents can decide whether or not their child attends.

Term time

The school year runs from September to June.

School holidays

The summer holidays are long, running from June to September.

Christmas and Easter holidays are about two weeks long, but mid-term breaks are only two days.

Numerous public and religious holidays are observed by all schools during the year.

Access Malta’s Schools with the Malta Residency and Visa Programme (MRVP)

The MRVP is one of the most powerful residency-by-investment programmes in the world. With a capital outlay as low as €130,000 (plus a property lease), you can acquire permanent residency in Malta for your family and benefit from:

• Access to Malta’s world-leading education system
• Visa-free travel in the Schengen Area
• A safe second home should you ever need one
• Fantastic investment and business opportunities
• First-world healthcare services.

To learn more about the Malta Residency and Visa Programme, contact our Managing Partner in Malta, Ryan Darmanin.