Students have set up a committee to debate divorce and encourage people to take informed positions on whether or not it should be introduced.

The University Students’ Council (KSU) said the committee would monitor the “ardently debated” issue. It would try to address misconceptions and inform students of the implications of divorce through various activities such as debates.

The KSU said the subject should be discussed based on facts rather than by making emotive arguments and should be seen in the larger context of family legislation.

Council president Carl Grech said the committee had not been given a specific timeline but its activities would take place throughout the year.

The committee is also expected to submit a report to the Social Policy Commission, made up of representatives from all student organisations, so the KSU could establish its position on divorce. However, the ­committee still has to decide whether it would aim to come up with a “yes or no answer” or just ­highlight the various ­arguments.

Although Malta does not allow divorce, the issue has been discussed for years and was placed firmly on the national agenda when government MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando presented a Private Members’ Bill this summer.

He said he would wait until January for it to be discussed in Parliament after people had enough time to think about it.

One of the most divisive issues is whether the decision should be taken through a referendum or by Parliament.