New Cottonera school located in cultural heritage site

Works are in progress at the new Cottonera secondary school - the third to be built by the Foundation for Tomorrow's Schools - which is steeped in heritage and set to offer students a rich, historical environment.

The secondary school is part of the Cottonera College, which includes a number of primary schools in the area and other secondary schools.

It was visited on Monday by Education Minister Louis Galea, who said the building of new schools was essential for the improvements in education in terms of quality and results.

The school is being built on the site of the Verdala Junior Lyceum, which is steeped in history, and should include the restoration of a number of historical buildings to be used for the various school facilities.

It is located in a cultural heritage site, including fortifications that are as yet hidden, FTS chairman Ray Fenech said. In fact, the foundation has started talks with Heritage Malta and the Lands Department with the aim that the government can carry out a restoration project that would allow the students to learn in a rich, historical environment, recognise its value and actively protect it, he added.

When complete, the school would be spread over three floors, catering for a maximum of 1,000 students, with 45 classrooms, three staff rooms, eight science laboratories, seven others for technology and six for computers, as well as special classes for drama, music, arts, ceramics, environmental studies, home economics and guidance among others, Dr Galea explained.

It is being constructed in a way that respects the environment, using alternative energy, for example.

As part of the education reform, new teachers were being chosen and the process to form the new national team, which would be responsible for the management of the national system of the colleges and schools, has started.

Groundwork is also underway for the secondary schools in Mosta and Gozo and the Pembroke primary school, Dr Galea said.