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Malta Information

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St Julians

Malta

Official languages

Maltese and English

Capital

Valletta 35°48'39" N 014°28'45" E

Largest City

Birkirkara

President

Edward Fenech Adami

Prime Minister

Lawrence Gonzi

Religion

96.7% Roman Catholicism

Area - Total - % water

Ranked 185th 316 km² Negligible

Population - Total (2005) - Density

Ranked 165th 398,534 1262/km²

Independence - Date

From the UK September 21, 1964

Currency

Maltese lira (Lm) (MTL)

Time zone - in summer

CET (UTC+1) CEST (UTC+2)

National anthem

L-Innu Malti

Internet TLD

.mt

Calling Code

+356

Patron Saints

Saint Paul Saint Agatha Saint Publius Pope Pius V

National bird

Blue Rock Thrush (Il-Merill)

National plant

Maltese Rock Centaury (Widnet il-Ba?ar)

National tree

Tetraclinis Articulata (L-G?arg?ar)

National poet

Dun Karm Psaila

Hotels in Malta

City: Attard

hotel: Corinthia Palace Hotel Attard

City: Bugibba

hotel: Bugibba Holiday Complex Hotel Bugibba

City: Bugibba

hotel: Crown Hotel Bugibba

City: Bugibba

hotel: Howard Johnson Mediterranea Hotel St Paul's Bay

City: Bugibba

hotel: Medallion Apartments St Paul's Bay

City: Bugibba

hotel: Topaz Hotel Bugibba

City: Gozo

hotel: Calypso Hotel Gozo

City: Gozo

hotel: L-Imgarr Hotel Gozo

City: Gozo

hotel: Serena Beach Club Hotel Gozo

City: Qawra

hotel: Bella Vista Hotel Qawra

City: Qawra

hotel: Canifor Hotel Qawra

City: Qawra

hotel: Santana Hotel Qawra

City: Qawra

hotel: Sunflower Hotel Qawra

City: Sliema

hotel: Howard Johnson Diplomat Hotel Sliema

City: Sliema

hotel: The Victoria Hotel Malta

Malta Information

Politics

Dr. Edward Fenech Adami, President of Malta since 2004

Dr. Edward Fenech Adami, President of Malta since 2004
Main article: Politics of Malta

The unicameral House of Representatives, known in Maltese as Kamra tad-Deputati, is elected by direct universal suffrage through single transferable vote every five years unless the House is dissolved earlier by the President on advice of the Prime Minister. The House of Representatives is made up of 65 MPs. However, where a party manages an absolute majority of votes, but not of seats, that party is given additional seats to ensure a parliamentary majority. The Parliamentary system (as well as public administration) is closely modeled on the Westminster system.
The President of the Republic is elected every five years by the House of Representatives. The role of the president as head of state is highly ceremonial.
The main political parties are the Dr. Emmy Bezzina and Dr. John Zammit and Imperium Europa. The Nationalist Party is currently at the helm of the government, the Prime Minister being Dr. Lawrence Gonzi. The Malta Labour Party, under Dr. Alfred Sant, is in opposition.

Economy

A Maltese worker producing system components for wireless communication

A Maltese worker producing system components for wireless communication
Main article: Economy of Malta

Until 1800, Malta had very few industries except the cotton, tobacco, and shipyards industry. The dockyard was later used by the British for military purposes. At times of war, Malta's economy prospered due to its strategic location.
In 1869, the opening of the Suez Canal benefited Malta's economy greatly as there was a massive increase in the shipping which entered in the port.
By the end of the 19th century, the economy began declining and by the 1940s, Malta's economy was in serious crisis. This was due to invention of large ships which did not require refuelling.
Nowadays, Malta’s major resources are limestone, a favourable geographic location, and a productive labour force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater supplies, and has no domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade (serving as a freight trans-shipment point), manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism. Tourism Infrastructure has increased dramatically over the years and a number of quality hotels are present on the island.
Malta has recently Tunisia are currently discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for petroleum exploration.
The Maltese government is intending to adopt the euro as the country's currency on 1 January 2008, having entered ERM II in May 2005.
Although Malta is now a member of the European Union, it is not a member of the Schengen Treaty yet. It is currently adopting Schengen regulations with the goal to be finished by 2007.

Education

Students during the Graduation Ceremony at the University of Malta

Students during the Graduation Ceremony at the University of Malta Gozo. Most of the teachers' salary in Church schools is paid by the state.
Education in Malta is based on the British Model. The first years of education in Malta are done in kindergarten. Attendance is up to 5 years and not compulsary. Compulsary education starts at the age of 6 with primary education. Primary education lasts for 6 years. Following public examinations, students enter secondary education. Following a five-year course preparing for the Secondary Education Certificate (SEC), equivalent to the British ordinary level General Certificate of Education (GCE), students sit for final examinations (results are used in the school-leaving certificate), and in general also sit for the SEC examinations. SEC examinations require students to be aged 16 and over, or to have a school-leaving certificate. Students who have repeated years are therefore able to apportion their SEC examinations over the last two years at school.
Once compulsory secondary education ends, students may enter either in a vocational college such as Advanced Level Examinations and Advanced Subsidiary Examinations. For students unsuccessful in their SEC examinations, there is the option of attending a Higher Secondary school, a sort of safety net to give students the possibility to catch up, where any core subjects (mathematics, english language, maltese, and a natural science) previously failed are again taught at ordinary in preperation for SEC examinations, while also teaching intermediate and advanced level subjects. Students may also choose to attend specialised private institutions leading to diplomas and degrees of foreign examination bodies in careers such as IT (London University), Networking (CISCO), Accountancy (ACCA) and Banking.
Matriculation certificate and passes at ordinary level of the core subjects. Special course requirements are mostly based on single-subject results in the Matriculation certificate. Some of the qualifications obtained from private institutions are also recognised. Full-time attendance by Maltese citizens is free-of-charge, while part-time (evening) attendance is not.
The Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) satisfies one of its dual roles by offering training for adults of any age and experience. The University of Malta offers similar courses and also gives the option of entering normal full-/part-time courses as a mature student - persons aged 23 and over are exempted from satisfying the University entry requirements, though these still have to satisfy any special cource requirements.
The adult literacy rate is 92%.