The Ministry for Education, Sports, Youth, Research and Innovation refers to what the Mayor of Mellieħa, Gabriel Micallef, wrote on social media regarding the Mellieħa Primary School project. What is conveyed through the statement made is incorrect, as Mr Micallef is well aware. Therefore, the following facts are being published:
The location that was chosen, after other possibilities were explored, is the only viable location where the Mellieħa school could start operating. Therefore, during the current scholastic year the school will continue to be used, but from the next scholastic year, that is from September 2025, the Mellieħa Primary School will start operating from a temporary school in Selmun, in the same locality. This will be done through the use of prefabricated classrooms. All preparations are currently being made for the prefabricated classrooms to be assembled on site.
It must be clarified that the location was chosen because it is the only place where students stay together and are not segregated. It must also be clarified that the part that will be taken in Selmun does not include the track and only part of the swings.
The Mellieħa Primary School project involves the demolition of the existing school to build a new one that will accommodate the growing population of this locality. The new school, which will be able to accommodate approximately 600 children, will be built on the site of the current school, as well as on an adjacent plot of land.
As the area is archaeologically sensitive due to underground shelters and rock-cut features related to previous military activities, all demolition and excavation works will be under the supervision of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.
The new school will be spread over three floors above street level and will include the construction of an underground parking lot for over 100 cars, a childcare center, kindergarten, primary school, conference rooms, library, hall, and gym, as well as ancillary facilities. The project will also include the construction of a substation that will eventually be used by Enemalta.
The first phase of this project will involve the excavation of the site adjacent to the existing school building. The second phase will include the demolition of the old school and the construction of the new school.
Excavation of the site adjacent to the existing school building is expected to commence shortly, in accordance with the Planning Authority’s permit reference PA/2255/18. The Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools is ensuring that this work complies with health and safety regulations, including those of school users.
The application for the demolition of the old school and the construction of the new school was submitted to the Planning Authority in January 2025, with the tracking number 292050.
Despite what has been said, the Mellieħa Local Council was informed of all this through several meetings it had with representatives of the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools (FTS), including meetings in September and December 2024. The Local Council also had a meeting with the Minister for Education, Sports, Youth, Research and Innovation, Clifton Grima, on January 8, 2025. This meeting was attended by representatives of the FTS, including the Chief Executive, Dr Neville Young, and professionals from the entity. During the meeting, the projects were well explained, both for the construction of the new Primary School, as well as for the site and assembly of the prefabricated classrooms in Selmun.
As the Council was also informed, on Friday 4th April a meeting and presentation will be held for the children’s parents, together with the school administration and representatives from the FTS, in the existing Primary School building.
