This Bill amends the Education Act, 1974 with the purpose of implementing the reforms proposed by the Socialist Government, that is to say, that everybody will have the same opportunity to get free education, and so that the principle of free education, already implemented in Government schools, will be extended to private schools. This will be effected in the field of secondary education in the scholastic year commencing in September this year. By the powers vested in Government by law, private schools will still be run by the persons presently running them, provided that this is done without any payment. If private schools are run counter to this principle and not in accordance with the conditions of the licence, Government will assume the running of the schools, at the expense of the owners of such schools.

The Bill also aims at the better regulation in the people's interest, of other matters in the educational field, such as foreign examinations held in Malta, as well as the conditions for entry examinations to private schools for the purpose of eliminating any discrimination.

By so doing the Socialist Government will for the first time give to all Maltese parents, whether they have the means or not, the right of a real choice of schools for their children.