Music school decision ‘hasty’
The Labour Party has criticised Education Minister Dolores Cristina for taking what it said was a rushed decision to split up Valletta’s Johann Strauss School of Music into a number of small centres.
In a statement, the PL said the decision was taken hastily and without consultation at a time when the government was supposed to be working to position artistic creativity at the heart of the economy.
Mrs Cristina had said two months ago there were no plans on the cards for the school of music to be relocated or split up, PL spokesman for Youth and Culture Owen Bonnici said. In reply to a parliamentary question, she had said plans were in the pipeline for how the school would develop in future.
Dr Bonnici also criticised the paltry amount of funding given to the school, which has catered for 671 students each week over the past four years. The €230 per week, he said, was intended to purchase teaching equipment and office supplies and fund any maintenance work needed.
As a consequence of the lack of funding, the building housing the school was now in a perilous structural state.
In a reply issued yesterday afternoon, the ministry said Labour was criticising investments being made in the education sector for the benefit of Malta’s youngsters, as it had done on numerous occasions in the past.
It added that the splitting up of the school into numerous smaller centres would actually be beneficial to its students, who could now avoid having to travel into Valletta for their lessons and attend in their own localities instead.
The announcement that the school was to be overhauled and temporarily relocated was made by Ms Cristina in a press conference last Friday.
The move took the school’s teachers by surprise, with complaints that they had not been consulted, although there was agreement that the school needed an overhaul.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
3 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
cecil herbert jones
Sep 27th 2010, 12:45
I was/am a student at the JSSM for a number of years now. I will be graduating next December with a Degree in Music Studies & Theatre Studies from the University of Malta, and I owe it to the School of Music for building me to this achievement.
About four years ago I had attended an extra curriculum course in Project Management under the supervision of Engineer Toledo, and my end-of-course assignment was to draw up a detailed project management report about the refurbishment of the Johann Strauss School of Music, and had to present it live to the entire classroom. This I did and I passed with a Distinction. I must say it took quite a bit of research, which included unearthing the original plans of the three-piece building. After I finished the PM course, I donated a copy of my report to Ms Monica Bugeja. In a nutshell the JSSM can be refurbished inside a year without interrupting classes.
If anybody wishes to receive a free copy of my Project Management academic report, please email a request to cecilandjones@yahoo.com
Antonia Borg
Aug 24th 2010, 18:31
The PL is 100% right in this. It is very clear that the decision was taken hastily as even the evening courses booklet indicates the School of Music as the venue where lessons are going to be held in the next scholastic year. The PL is not criticising the investment but the hasty manner in which this is being done.
I have nothing against the outreach program. However, it is very clear that this should have its own planning not confusing it with the program that regular Music School students are currently attending for. The outreach program as it is being proposed will create huge logistic problems for the Music School. I reiterate, this proposal was not well-thought and it will definitely result in a big disservice for music in Malta. The "advisors" at the Education Division must know better ...!!!
GiovDeMartino
Aug 24th 2010, 16:06
Iva aghmel WAHDA BISS sewwa Sur Gonzipn! Wahda biss!