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Reading Time: 3 minutes Morning Briefing Malta Slips in Global Rule of Law IndexMalta has dropped one place to 31st out of 143 countries in the 2025 World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index, its lowest ranking since joining in 2021. Although Malta’s overall score of 0.67 remains above the global average, it trails behind the European and North American average of 0.73. The country performed relatively well in fundamental rights but declined in key areas such as constraints on government powers and absence of corruption. The index highlights limited sanctions for misconduct by government officials and weak legislative oversight. While Malta fares well within the judiciary and police, it scored poorly for corruption within the executive and legislature. (Times of Malta) International Students Now Make Up One-Third of Tertiary EnrolmentsMalta’s post-secondary and tertiary education landscape is undergoing major change, driven by a sharp rise in international students. New data from the National Statistics Office show that during the 2023–2024 academic year, total enrolments reached 32,675, up 4.6% from the previous year. Foreign students now account for 37% of tertiary-level enrolments, a 27% increase in just one year. Non-EU nationals represent 21.9% of tertiary students, while EU nationals make up 15.1%. At post-secondary level, foreign students make up 17.4% of 10,399 total enrolments. The data also show that women dominate tertiary studies (55.3%), while men outnumber women at post-secondary level. Vocational courses are gaining ground, attracting over half of post-secondary students, with business, law and health emerging as the top tertiary fields. (Newsbook) Union Declares Dispute Over Junior College AgreementThe Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) has declared a trade dispute with the government over delays in concluding a new collective agreement for University of Malta Junior College staff. The previous agreement expired in December 2023, and the union said the government has yet to respond to a financial proposal submitted months ago. Describing the situation as “unacceptable”, the MUT said the lack of progress shows that lecturers’ well-being and working conditions are not being prioritised. The union will meet lecturers in the coming days to discuss possible industrial action. The dispute adds to growing frustration within the education sector over stalled negotiations and delays in implementing long-promised updates to staff conditions. (Maltatoday) SAMOC Marks Tenth Anniversary with €100 Million Digital Investment The Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre (SAMOC) marked its tenth anniversary with a conference highlighting future investment and patient-centred care. Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela announced a €100 million plan to introduce a single electronic medical records system over the next decade, aimed at improving efficiency and continuity in patient treatment. Around 300 professionals and cancer care specialists attended the conference, which focused on charting the centre’s direction for the next ten years. Abigail Camenzuli, President of the Oncology Conference Association, praised SAMOC staff for their dedication, drawing on her professional and personal experience with cancer patients. The investment underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing oncology services and placing patients at the heart of healthcare delivery. (TVM News)
