The tragedy which led to the death of a 15-year-old girl last month highlights the difficulties faced by youths today, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said earlier today.

15-year-old Lisa Marie Zahra's body was found at the bottom of Dingli Cliffs after a missing persons report was released by police.

The girl was accompanied by Erin Tanti, her teacher, who was spotted lying on a rock some 40 metres below. He is expected to be arraigned in the coming days.

Addressing students from 11 schools at a youth debate, Mr Bartolo said youths were living in a world which was much more difficult to face than the one their parents had lived in.

“It is definitely much more difficult growing up nowadays. You are all facing very tough challenges and we owe it to you to give support, after all, you are living in a world that we created,” he said.

Addressing the students as a "nannu" (grandfather) and not a minister, Mr Bartolo said the tragic death reminded him of the tough decisions he had to make when his two daughters were growing up.

“The biggest challenges I ever faced were as a father and I am aware of the responsibility we all have to support you,” he said.

The students were gathered in the Mediterranean Conference Centre to vote on the introduction of coed classes and the extension of the school leaving age to 18.

The event, organised by the Malta Union of Teachers and the Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, saw more than 100 middle school students explode into applause when asked to vote against increasing the school leaving age.

However, they voted in favour of mixed gender schools.

A panel, made up of students from Ħandaq Girls’ Secondary School, St Elias School and St Jeanne Antide School, argued the motion for and against the leaving age extension, however, the audience of students claimed this would impinge on their freedom.

One argued that increasing the leaving age would not lead to more graduates.

“Lawyers made it to their profession but it wasn’t forced onto them. They had the choice and they chose what they wanted,” the enigmatic 12-year-old said.

Other arguments raised against the compulsory extension were the resulting increase in expenses due to more students receiving stipends.

On coed schools, students insisted these would counter sexism as well as add value to the educational experience.

Reacting to these arguments, Mr Bartolo said that in the coming years, Parliament would debate the extension of the school leaving age.

"You have to remember that the school leaving age was 10 before it was extended," he said.

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