The President of Malta George Vella launched a digital booklet with information about the Maltese language and useful resources for students and parents that can help them in their studies. Access to this digital booklet will be through a QR code on bookmarks that will be distributed to all primary and secondary school students in Malta and Gozo.
During a launch at St Ignatius College Ħandaq Middle School, President Vella explained that this initiative is kicking off the second part of the ‘L-ilsien Malti għal Qalbi’ campaign to promote the correct use of the Maltese language. “Since the beginning of my Presidency I have strongly and fully insisted on the proper use of the Maltese language. I insisted that this commitment must not only be made by the Maltese language organisations that are working together with my Office towards this goal”, said the President. He added that each and every one of us must make this commitment, especially the institutions that have the duty and responsibility to drive the people to do this.
The President announced that next month the Office of the President and the Maltese language organisations will hold a conference, entitled ‘L-ilsien Malti għal Qalbi – Konferenza dwar l-użu ta’ lsienna fostna’, which will bring together many decision-makers on how to use the Maltese language. “I hope that the discussion that will drive this conference will lead to identifying the ways in which we can improve the use the language,” stated President Vella.
Justine Somerville, on behalf of the Maltese language organisations, explained to the students that the purpose of the booklet is to serve as a point of reference for everything related to the Maltese language because it contains, among others, information about careers they can choose if they know how to use the Maltese language well, curiosities about the language and its development, instructions to download Maltese fonts on mobiles or tablets, and links to websites related to the Maltese language. Regarding the conference, Ms Somerville explained that this will be an opportunity to reflect on the use of the Maltese language in public with the participation of speakers who will address different situations in which the Maltese language is used and how languages can make public services more accessible to citizens, among others.
The Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation Clifton Grima, and the Opposition’s Spokesperson for Education, Justin Schembri, addressed the launch, stating that such initiatives are important to keep the Maltese language alive particularly among students.
The ‘L-ilsien Malti għal Qalbi’ campaign is organised by the Office of the President of Malta in collaboration with seven Maltese language organisations: Il-Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ilsien Malti, the Department of Maltese at the University of Malta, L-Akkademja tal-Malti, L-Għaqda tal-Malti – Università, L-Għaqda tal-Għalliema tal-Malti, Inizjamed, and L-Għaqda tal-Qarrejja tal-Provi tal-Malti.
