Minister for Education Justyne Caruana gave details about an extensive project that will be carried out in the Mellieħa Primary School with an estimated investment of €5 million.
“This project involves the extensive refurbishment of the existing primary school, as well as the construction of a new block next to the same school. The project is intended to expand the school in this growing locality, and also to offer modern, accessible and comfortable educational spaces for our children and educators.”
She continued that this is a project in a series of other existing projects spread across the country, as this is one of the government’s priorities, to not only improve education in terms of curricula and teaching, but to also to improve the environment in which our schoolchildren receive their education.
The new building will house eight new classes for kindergarten and 26 new classes for the primary level. This building will also have facilities for educators and staff providing ancillary services, a First Aid room, a guidance room, a library, a gym, and a hall. The gym and the hall will be available for use by the local community after school hours and will therefore have separate entrances.
“We want to bring education closer to the community through the projects we are planning, as well as offer the spaces that are not being used during school hours to the community,” said Minister Caruana.
This project will be reflecting the government’s policy of promoting diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities through the education strategy, by which education authorities are taking initiatives to address the different needs, interests and abilities of children.
These initiatives are reflected in this project with the creation of additional classes for the teaching of vocational subjects, science, art and music, as well as personal and social development. At this school, a multi-sensory class will be opened for the therapy of children who need it. The Mellieħa Primary School will be redesigned with the aim of enabling educators to provide teaching spaces adapted to the subjects described here.
In the new building, space for a childcare centre will also be created.
The school will be able to accommodate about 700 children, while the childcare centre will be able to accommodate about 40 children. It is estimated that the number of educators at this school will increase by about 25 members.
As part of this project, discussions are taking place on the development of an underground car park. The project plans are currently being considered by the Planning Authority.
