Maris Camilleri, the newly appointed Acting CEO of the Maltese Language Centre, said private schools must make a greater effort to promote Maltese.

“It’s not just about public education; private schools need to step up and incorporate Maltese into their everyday curriculum. It’s crucial for maintaining the language’s relevance,” Camilleri said in an exclusive interview with Lovin Malta.

Camilleri, a respected linguist with a rich background in international experience in England, Austria, and Malta, was appointed CEO of the Maltese Language Centre after Norma Saliba left the role to take on a new job as PL spokesperson.

“I am thrilled and honoured to be nominated for this position,” she said, reflecting on her years of academic dedication that have led to this moment.

“Finally, my studies, hard work, and commitment to the Maltese language have paid off.”

She made it clear that she intends to build upon the firm foundations set before her while bringing in fresh perspectives to her new role.

Besides education, one of her main priorities is to see an improvement in the standard of both Maltese and English used in popular Maltese television programmes.

“I want to see a shift in how we approach the language on our screens. Programmes like MasterChef Malta should exemplify proper use of both English and Maltese, ensuring a higher linguistic standard across the board.”

In fact, just last week, Dr. Camilleri appeared in a MasterChef video where she educated viewers on the names of various herbs in Maltese, many of which are commonly only known in English.

Dr. Camilleri also praised the new Peppa Pig Bil-Malti show, which translates the beloved children’s programme into Maltese, in collaboration with the Maltese Language Centre.

“Peppa Pig has such a wide audience among children, and now it is a fantastic resource for helping them learn Maltese in a fun and engaging way. It’s important that the younger generations to be familiar with their national language.”

Do you think Maltese should be utilised more?