The next school year will also mean an amazing educational experience for students at the San Miguel Primary Education Resource Centre, located in Pembroke and which welcomes students with disabilities.
This centre will benefit from a new and state-of-the-art sensory-hydrotherapy pool, jacuzzi and multisensory pods as part of a project being led by the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools. Work is progressing at a good pace so that by the end of this year the facility can be fully used by students. This project is being carried out with an investment of around €6 million.
During a visit by the Minister for Education and Sport, Byron Camilleri, he followed the ongoing work and stressed that the educational experience must be inclusive and that the Ministry is committed to continuing to invest to achieve this goal.
Therefore, said Minister Camilleri, this investment is a concrete example of how inclusion in education must translate into an environment, services and opportunities that respond to the different needs of each student.
“Truly inclusive education means giving every student what they need to learn, develop and reach their potential. At San Miguel we are doing this in a concrete way, with an investment in a first-of-its-kind facility in a state-owned educational institution, designed around the needs of students. We want inclusion to not just be a principle we talk about, but a reality that children and their families experience every day. Therefore, we will continue to invest in the services, professionals and infrastructure necessary to give every child the best possible opportunity to progress,” said Minister Camilleri.
The San Miguel Centre provides full-time education to over 20 children aged between 3 and 11 and also offers services to around 60 students from State, Church and Independent schools. Sensory experiences form an important part of the educational process for these children, while the new facilities will also mean improved therapy services.
The new complex covers an area of 557 square metres and will be directly accessible from the school. At the same time, a separate entrance will allow the facility to be used independently even after school hours. The sensory hydrotherapy pool and jacuzzi will be able to accommodate up to 16 people at a time.
The facility will also include six specially equipped sanitary facilities and showers, a first aid room, storage spaces, a pool pump room and two multi-purpose rooms that can accommodate up to 30 people each. This will allow the San Miguel Centre to further expand the range of specialist services it can offer to students.
Minister Camilleri visited the centre together with the leadership of the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools, as well as the professionals who worked on the project.
Architect Francesca Axisa from the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools (FTS), explained that this is the first project of its kind for the Foundation and that its importance goes beyond the architectural and technical aspects.
“Working on a project of this type is doubly satisfying, both because of the value it contains as a design and implementation task, but above all because you know that the project will benefit students who need this type of services. Services that thanks to this investment will be provided better than ever before,” said Architect Axisa.
Architect Axisa explained that developing a new extension next to an existing building brought with it several challenges, both logistical and in design. Therefore, the extension was designed in a way that respects the architectural character of the school, including by continuing the line of arches that characterizes the existing facade. Although structurally independent from the school building, the complex will be connected to it via a corridor to ensure easy access for students and facilitate the work of educators.
The project was developed in close consultation with the center’s management, so that the design and technology of the facility reflect the real needs of the students and professionals who will use it.
Photos: MES/DOI
