St Augustine College’s Rector speaks out

St Augustine College's Rector, Fr Alan Scerri, said that as a result of a decision taken by MEPA to turn down the application for the construction of a new school in Pieta', the College is now faced with imminent difficulties as it has been refused the possibility of being at par with other schools in implementing by the scholastic year 2013/2014 the reforms set by the National Education Reform.

"This means that hundreds of children will be denied the chance of being educated within a Church School setting with a smooth transition from Primary to Secondary," Scerri said.

"Consequently, hundreds of parents will be denied the right to admit their children in the school of their choice in accordance with their wishes and beliefs."

Scerri said that National Education Reform will give a wider opportunity to children coming from the various localities in Malta and Gozo as it will allow children with more varied learning abilities to seek admission in Church Schools.

"I feel that the new system which has been put into action by the Church Authorities is truly and veritably built on social, ethical, religious and democratic principles which unquestionably are more just and upon which our society is established," Scerri said.

"But the decision taken by MEPA undermines theses principles It is a fact that the people living in the neighbourhood have a right to put forward their objections vis-à-vis the building of the new school. However, one has to disassociate oneself from all personal interests and consider the matter as objectively as possible."

The proposed site lies within an Urban Conservation Area but the area itself upon which the school was intended to stand, which presently consists of a tennis court and a small garden, is listed as a White Area which means that it is an area subject to the interpretation of the authorities.

The sites was chosen because its proximity to the already constructed school.

"I am also dissatisfied with the argument that such a school will have a negative impact on the flow of traffic in the said area. Originally, this was the primary reason brought forward by the neighbours but I must say that this problem was duly addressed. We provided parking spaces for about seventy cars beneath the new school as well as beneath the existing playing ground so that our teachers would have enough space to park their cars and our neighbours would not be compelled to suffer any hardships.

"We had also prepared a plan to ensure that any congestion caused by incoming and outgoing cars would be brought down to a minimum. All this was studied and approved by the Transport Authority which did not find any objection to the manner in which the whole process was to be executed," Scerri said.

He urged the Authorities to help find a positive solution to launch the project: "We cannot but consider our next move: that of an Appeal to MEPA. Unfortunately, this will be a long process and at the moment time is of the essence if we wish to conform with the National Educational Reform."

Scerri also disassociated himself from accusations made by sections of the media whereby a member of MEPA was mentioned by name and alleged to have influenced the final decision due to conflict of interests.

"Let it be known that my only interest which is shared by my Augustinian brothers as well as by the Administration of our College is to bring the whole matter to a closure in the best interests of our youngest students and their parents alike," the Rector said.

"Such interests are, and have always been, the only aim behind each and every decision regarding the realisation of the project under hand: the building of the New Primary School. I believe in the education of our children, the National interest as well as the common good and these three principles must guide each one of us towards a solution to this problem."