Research and School Internal Review Directorate

12/06/2026

Dr Anthony Sammut, RSIRD Director, attended the Technical Seminar on Declining birth rates in Europe: Social security challenges and opportunities, held in Valletta, Malta, on 28-29 April 2026. The seminar was organised by The International Social Security Association (ISSA) European Network and was hosted by the Malta Ministry for Social Policy and the Family. It focused on the influence of a demographic shift, as a result of declining birth rates and rising life expectancy, on society, the economy, and the social security system, as well as evaluations of recent country experiences and good practices aimed at addressing these issues. The seminar also delved into recent developments in parental leave systems, financial incentives, and measures, as well as the importance of cross-sectoral, long-term approaches that target these challenges.

25/05/2026

From 19 to 21 May, Ms Joyce Grech, Assistant Director at the Research and School Internal Review Directorate (RSIRD), represented the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation at the Meeting of Directors-General for Higher Education, part of the official programme of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

This high-level meeting brought together senior officials from across Europe to discuss key priorities shaping the future of higher education. Discussions focused on strengthening European universities for greater impact, advancing internationalisation and mobility, and aligning higher education systems with evolving labour market needs through effective upskilling and reskilling initiatives.

Participants also engaged in forward-looking sessions on the role of artificial intelligence in higher education and explored how alliances among European institutions can act as a driving force for innovation and collaboration.

19/05/2026

On 15 May 2026, Ms Ruth Theuma, representing RSIRD, attended the IDAHOT+ Business Breakfast at the Marriott Resort & Spa in St Julian’s. Organised by the Human Rights Directorate, the conference focused on LGBTIQ+ visibility and media responsibility, with discussions on how media representation shapes public understanding, social attitudes, and inclusion.

A key outcome was the recognition that visibility alone does not guarantee equity. Participants reflected on the need for fair, accurate, and respectful representation across all LGBTIQ+ identities, including those that remain less visible in mainstream and social media spaces.

The conference also highlighted misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and underreporting as ongoing challenges. Discussions and workshops explored how different sectors can support more responsible communication, challenge harmful narratives, and strengthen inclusive practice.

Looking ahead, all stakeholders welcome continued collaboration with the Human Rights Directorate to promote accurate representation, media responsibility, and safer, more inclusive spaces for all.

18/05/2026

From 11 to 13 May, Ms Joyce Grech, Assistant Director within the Research and School Internal Review Directorate (RSIRD), participated in a capacity-building seminar as part of the Empower Me Project, on behalf of the Directorate. The project is an important initiative focused on strengthening mental health support for children and young people.
The seminar brought together policymakers from different ministries and entities to discuss current services related to children’s mental health. One of the project’s key deliverables is the Mental Health Toolkit, which is currently being developed to support children and young people aged 7–17, as well as their caregivers.
Importantly, the toolkit is being co-created with children in Malta, ensuring that its content reflects their lived experiences, language, and real needs.
For more information about the Mental Health Toolkit, visit

The Mental Health Toolkit is being developed as part of the Empowering a Mentally Healthy Generation project to support children and young people in understanding their emotions, strengthening their wellbeing, and knowing when and how to seek help.

14/05/2026

Ms Maria Attard- Education Officer and Ms Annabel Said- Manager II from the Research and School Internal Review Directorate have attended the EVIDALI Policy Learning Lab #3 on 11-13 May 2026 in Trento, Italy. They were accompanied by Dr Carlos Grima from the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education. The aims of the PLLab #3 were to:
• Learn in more depth from Trento's experience in developing and deepening data literacy strategies
• Examine patterns, strengths and gaps emerging from the preliminary Data Literacy Survey (DALIS) analysis
• Use these results to identify areas for further exploration in upcoming PLLabs
• Begin co-creating a maturity matrix, focusing on micro-level (practice) stages of development in school- and classroom-level educational data literacy.
PLLab #3 featured school showcases and visits, panel and internal discussions, and interactive exercises with project partners from Italy, Spain and Portugal, alongside experts from France, Sweden and Italy, all set against the green mountainsides of the Trentino region.

14/05/2026

Big thank you to SEM - Servizzi Ewropej f'Malta for having us and for the marvellous organisation!

14/05/2026

Last Friday, RSIRD in its capacity as the Malta Eurydice Unit proudly took part in the Europe Day celebrations held outside the Parliament House in Valletta alongside several other EU-related entities. 🇪🇺

Throughout the day, we had the opportunity to meet members of the public, share information about the Eurydice network and our work in the field of education, distribute promotional merchandise, and engage visitors through an interactive quiz on education across the European Union. 📚✨

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our stand and participated in the activities — it was wonderful to celebrate European cooperation, learning, and community together!

22/04/2026

On Sunday 26th April, the Ministry for Education is organising a special family day at Minden Grove, Ta’ Qali, from 9:00am onwards.

This activity, which aligns with the vision of the National Education Strategy, aims to promote well-being and inclusion among children, educators, workers, and families. Entrance is free of charge, while donations will be collected in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund.

Throughout the day, there will be a variety of activities for all ages, including stands by Lifelong Learning and a showcase by DDLTS. Families and children can enjoy a bouncy castle and other attractions, including fun games for children organised by the DPSF Directorate, as well as family games organised by Sports Malta.

In addition, there will be participation from the Ministry for Social Policy, along with a selection of food prepared by the Public Abattoir.

The Ministry encourages educators, children, workers, and their families to attend this day filled with fun, learning, and activities that strengthen community ties.

22/04/2026

https://www.gov.mt/en/Government/DOI/Press%20Releases/Pages/2026/04/22/PR260693.aspx

Malta kompliet turi impenn qawwi biex tindirizza t-tluq bikri mill-edukazzjoni u t-taħriġ (ELET), u issa laħqet l-inqas rata u għalhekk rata rekord ta' 8.6% fl-2026. Din ir-rata hija wkoll taħt il-mira Ewropea li sal-2030, ir-rata tkun ta' 9%. Dan joħroġ minn stħarriġ ippubblikat mill-Euros...

20/04/2026

EVIDALI has recently published the second entry of its Development Diary. Through this diary, we continue exploring project activities and report development, offering a closer look at what is being undertaken within the project.

This latest entry focuses on the development of five case studies across Europe, looking at how data literacy is approached in school contexts. Italy, Croatia, Greece, Malta and Slovenia were selected to reflect different approaches across countries. We invite you to read the entry to get a closer view of this work. 🔗

https://evidali.eun.org/evidali-development-diary-2