The Maltese government has launched the ODPC (One Device per Child) project, a €54 million initiative aimed at providing laptops to students in Years 7, 8, and 9 across Malta. This programme, which is part of a broader Digital Education Strategy, is co-funded by the Maltese government and the European Union.
The primary objective of the ODPC project is to ensure equitable access to digital learning for all students, regardless of their socioeconomic background. By providing a laptop to every student in these year groups whether they attend a state, church, or independent school, the government seeks to bridge the digital divide and ensure that no child is left behind in the ongoing process of digitalisation. The project is considered a crucial step in preparing students for a technologically advanced world and is intended to foster a more inclusive and high-quality learning environment.
The distribution of the laptops is scheduled to commence in the upcoming 2025/2026 scholastic year, with this initial phase targeting students in Years 7, 8, and 9. As of scholastic year 2026/2027 onwards, the initiative will focus exclusively on providing laptops to all incoming Year 7 students. Beyond just providing hardware, the project also includes plans for providing students with access to digital resources and offering training to educators on how to effectively integrate these tools into their teaching. This holistic approach underscores the government’s commitment to providing the necessary tools and supporting the pedagogical changes required for successful digital transformation in education.
