Meet the Minister

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Ms Dolores Cristina B.A., (HONS), M.P.
Ministry of Education, Employment and the Family (MEEF)

Dolores Cristina


Dolores Cristina was appointed Minister for Education and Culture on the 12th March 2008, following her election from the 9th and 10th Districts. Her wide portfolio, in addition to education and culture, includes public broadcasting services, libraries, museums and national archives, arts, youth and sport.

Since February 2010, Minister Cristina has been given the added responsibilities for Employment and the Family, together with her Education Portfolio which includes also Youth and Sport.

Her previous Ministerial appointment during the Tenth Legislature was as Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity (from March 2004 to March 2008), with a portfolio covering social security and social services, pensions, housing, equal opportunities, children, family, voluntary organisations, and welfare of irregular immigrants. From April 2003 to March 2004, she was appointed Parliamentary Secretary within the then Ministry of Social Policy, focusing on housing and gender equality.

In April 1998, Mrs Cristina was elected Mayor of Swieqi, a post of short duration as she was subsequently elected to Parliament in the September general elections of that same year, in a Casual Election on the 10th District.

During the Ninth Legislature (1998 – 2003), Mrs Cristina chaired the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives and was also a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee. From February 2002 to April 2003, she was Alternate Member at the Convention on the Future of Europe.

Mrs Cristina also held a number of political posts within the Nationalist Party. Between 1997 and 1998, she was President of the Women’s Movement (MNPN) and between 1998 and 2000 she was President of the Administrative Council.

Mrs Cristina has, over the years, been very active in the voluntary sector. Posts she held include that of President of the National Council of Women (1991-1995).

She has also held posts within the public sector and between 1992 and 1995 she was a board member of the Public Broadcasting Services. From 1992 to 1994, she was a member on the Commission for the International Year of the Family.

Mrs Cristina was also a member of the Commission for the Administration of Justice (1996–1998); member of the Commission on Public Financing of Political Parties (1996–1998); Council member of the University of Malta (1994– 996); a member of the Inter-Agency Forum on Violence Against Women (1993–1994).

Mrs Cristina graduated Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) from the Royal University of Malta in 1971. She has held teaching posts in History and English at Secondary and Post-Secondary levels.

Dolores Cristina, the daughter of Michael Zammit and Antonia nee' Gauci, was born in Senglea on 10th January 1949. She is married to Victor and they have four children, Liliana, Marilena, Alessandro and Anthony.


Page last updated on 16 June 2010