Work on expanding the departure terminal at Malta International Airport is expected to begin later this year, with plans to double its current size. MIA CEO Alan Borg announced that the airport will submit its plans to the Planning Authority in March, aiming for approval by the second quarter of the year. The expansion will see check-in desks nearly double from 36 to 68, and departure gates increase from 18 to 24. The updated investment programme, which is set to reach €345 million, is expected to deliver significant operational, commercial and sustainability-related improvements between 2025 and 2029. (The Malta Independent)
Teacher reprimanded for criticising new SEC system
A government school teacher was reprimanded by her headmaster after publicly criticising the new SEC system, which introduced continuous assessments. However, Maths teacher Joanna Mallia defended her headmaster, saying he was simply following orders from “someone above.” Speaking on Jon Mallia’s podcast last week, she warned Education Minister Clifton Grima that the system was placing excessive pressure on students. Under new Education Ministry rules issued in September, teachers must obtain written permission before speaking to the media. The policy requires educators to align their comments with ministry objectives and avoid personal opinions or statements that could be seen as politically biased. Following her appearance, Mallia was summoned to the headmaster’s office on Tuesday. She argued that she had spoken in a personal capacity and insisted she had done nothing wrong. (Times of Malta)
Four charged with AFM drug heist
Four men have been charged in connection with the theft of over 200kg of cannabis resin from an Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) property on Sunday morning. The individuals charged are Sean Attard, 30, from Ħaż-Żebbuġ; Carlos Pace, 23, from Marsa; Yousef Essesi, 33, from St Paul’s Bay; and Cleaven Pace, 19, also from Marsa. They appeared before Magistrate Leonard Caruana on Wednesday evening. The men were charged with the theft of cannabis between the night of 22nd and 23rd February from an AFM property.
