Extensive works at two primary schools

Education Minister Louis Galea said yesterday that demographic changes in Marsascala and Gzira had forced them to make changes to the structures of the schools in the localities.

He said that while the student population in Marsascala was increasing, the Gzira school had seen a drop.

He was speaking when he visited works at the schools of the two localities yesterday.

Extensive works costing around Lm180,000 are being carried out at the Marsascala and Gzira primary schools which are expected to be completed in time for the coming scholastic year.

The project at the Marsascala school includes the building of a number of new classrooms.

The Marsascala primary school project cost Lm100,000.

The school was built between 1965 and 1969 and more recently a wing was added. The school is attended by 500 boys and girls including a number of children from different countries or having foreign parents.

Dr Galea said the project currently in hand catered only for the short-term needs of the locality. In the meantime, the foundation was carrying out an audit about the needs of Marsascala with a view to deciding what should be done in the long term.

Extensive work was carried out at the Gzira primary school. Tests carried out by the foundation on the roofs revealed that they were dangerous and had to be replaced.

The Lm80,000 project included the installation of a lift and other works to make the school completely accessible to everyone, including persons with a disability.