“The low numbers of students learning Arabic is rooted in a negative perception of Arabic,” Camilleri notes, noting that even Arab individuals see the learning of English and other European languages as offering more opportunities. This negative perception is also reflected in a shortage of Arab teachers in secondary schools. Camilleri says greater “visibility” for the Arabic language is needed in both the education system and the media. From compulsory to marginal optionEfforts to promote Arabic in schools were initiated in the mid-1970s, under a cultural and educational agreement with Libya, aimed to embed Arabic language teaching in Malta’s curriculum. A cultural and educational agreement with Libya signed in 1975 resulted in the arrival of 12 Libyan teachers who embarked on Arabic language lessons in state schools.
