The government should be ashamed that young children are not learning the basics of reading, writing and mathematics at primary school, Labour Deputy Leader Toni Abela said yesterday.

Speaking during the opening session of a three-day annual general conference, the party affairs deputy leader presented a motion highlighting the government's failure in the sector and saying education is at the heart of Labour's ideals.

On Tuesday, the government launched a draft policy aimed at identifying weak pupils and ensuring they learn the basic levels of literacy, mathematics and eLiteracy within the first three years of schooling.

Launching the document, Education Minister Dolores Cristina said many children are lost along the way and finish primary school without learning the basic skills.

Dr Abela accused the government of having made many mistakes in the education sector.

"It's a shame that around 50 per cent of students are finishing primary school without learning the basics of reading, writing and maths - it is the government's fault," he said. Children have to be at the centre of the educational system, said Dr Abela. "We want people who question the system - this is what children have to learn," he said.

PL general secretary Jason Micallef told the conference that the party had undergone a number of changes last year because it needed to be regenerated and strengthened.

Labour was determined to work hard to ensure that any illegalities and abuse perpetrated before the general election, such as the use of expired ID cards, would not happen again.

By 2010, the PL would make sure that all identity cards would be renewed in a clear and transparent process, said Mr Micallef.

He also told the delegates not to take any notice of reports in the media that he was clashing with the CEO. "In-Nazzjon actually carried a correction about the story that we had a clash - don't believe these people."