Fifty years ago, on September 15, 1958, Ġużč Damato Boys' Secondary School in Paola opened, initially as a primary school for boys living in Paola.
In March 1946, compulsory education was introduced in Malta. At that time Paola's population was rapidly increasing and in 1948 it reached over 14,000. Moreover, in 1956 the half-day system was abolished.
To cope with the increasing demand, it was decided to build a new government primary school at the upper end of Arcade Street. The school was designed by architect Joseph Borg Grech, who had the huge task of making the best use of the limited space of land at his disposal at the upper end of Strada Loggia or Arcade Street.
Construction work started in 1957, and by October of the following year the new school opened its doors. It consisted of three blocks with 35 classrooms, three science laboratories, two workshops, two yards, a guidance room, stores and a large assembly hall.
Angelo Cilia served as its first headmaster until 1963 when he was appointed education inspector. Subsequent heads of the primary school include Dominic Muscat, Francis Bonnici and Lino Bugeja.
In 1970, secondary education for all was introduced and consequently the school ceased to receive pupils. Students aged 11+ from Paola and the surrounding towns and villages began attending what became known as Paola Boys' Secondary School for the first time in September of that year.
George White was its first head of the secondary school, and later became an assistant director of Education. Other heads of the school were Lawrence J. Caruana, Joseph P. Vella, Godfrey Xuereb, Gaetano Grech, Joseph M. Bonnici and Anthony Demicoli.
As time went by the school's physical appearance underwent various changes, including the building of new storeys. In 1988, during Godfrey Xuereb's tenure of office as school head, the school was named Ġużč Damato Boys' Secondary School after architect Joseph Damato, who lived in the same street where the school stands. A commemorative plaque in the foyer marks the occasion.
The current school head, Joe Cilia Vincenti, who by coincidence also attended this school as a primary student and later served as a secondary teacher in it, is the son of the first headmaster of this school - the late Angelo Cilia. The school now forms part of the St Thomas More College.
In April the school organised various events to commemorate its 50th anniversary, including a thanksgiving Mass by Archbishop Paul Cremona at Christ the King parish church to which past and present students, parents, teachers, administrators and support staff were invited.
Mr Cilia Vincenti unveiled two commemorative plaques, one listing all the heads who served in this school during the past 50 years, and another commemorating the 50th anniversary of the school's foundation.
Mr Ellul Galea is a former teacher and assistant head at Ġużč Damato Boys' Secondary School.