School maintenance works during 2014 to total €20 million

€20 million investment in school maintenance works • Video by Ray Attard

Maintenance works in public schools across Malta and Gozo will total €20 million during 2014, according to Minister for Education Evarist Bartolo.

Works committed during the summer months on 40 schools total €8 million.

Renovation works were also required to provide for the government’s decision to move towards co-educational teaching and the subsequent development of middle schools. 

The concept was first introduced at St Clare College’s secondary school and will now be adopted by all schools as from the forthcoming scholastic year.

The co-education system will be starting from Form 1 in all colleges of Malta and Gozo form the scholastic year 2014-15.

“The wide consultation process showed that colleges were in favour of the co-ed system,” Bartolo said.

The education minister reiterated his support towards smaller schools in order to reach out to the students and ensure that they are receiving adequate attention.

Significant alterations were carried out on four schools to accommodate middle schools in Birkirkara, Cospicua, Rabat and Gozo.

A total of €2.1 million were spent on the new middle school in Cospicua, part of St Margaret’s college.

CCTV cameras were also installed in almost all co-ed middle schools, classroom furniture has been replaced and new sanitary facilities installed.


“I am pleased to see that hard work has continued during the summer to make these schools ship-shape for the start of the new term. Our children and their educators deserve good facilities. It is important to create environments that make learning enjoyable and rewarding,” Bartolo said.



“The €20 million investment for this year shows Government's commitment to education and following last year's vast works, this year we have continued to increase the budget for school maintenance across Malta and Gozo.”

National sports school

A three-storey block to serve as a state-of-the-art sports school will be constructed in Pembroke. The Luigi Preziosi School will take over the national sports school in Kirkop, which formed part of the boys’ secondary school.

Visiting the €1.6 million project that is currently underway, the Education Minister said the sports school will cater for 225 students.

The renovation works at the National Sports School in Pembroke include the removal of asbestos water tanks and canopies.

The site was identified in 2013 and applications submitted to MEPA were approved and granted earlier this year. Tenders for the first phase of the project, amounting to €300,000, were awarded in 2014.

A 1,400 square metre sports hall spanning 35 metres will be completed in 2015.