Students, parents holding protest over permit refusal
Video: Mark Zammit Cordina
Some 300 students, parents and teachers at St Augustine College are holding a protest in Valletta today after Mepa turned down an application for a permit to build a primary school.
Rector Alan Scerri said the protest is meant to show disapproval of the decision.
Those taking part delivered a petition signed by about 600 teachers, parents and former students to the Prime Minister's secretary.
The protest started near the War Memorial in Floriana and headed for the Auberge de Castille.
The college wants to build its primary school in a former garden but Mepa says the site is an urban conservation area. The Mepa board last Thursday voted 6-5 against granting the permit.
The college insists this is a 'white area' subject to change. It also argued that the development will not be visible from the streets, since it is surrounded by buildings whose height will not be exceeded.
The college is appealing the Mepa decision but is calling for the appeal to be heard quickly, since 150 primary school students are already using temporary classes at the Minor Seminary. Appeals normally take 18 months.
The plan was to move these students to the permanent new school next year. Parents voiced their worries because they do not know what will happen to their children who are currently receiving their education in temporary premises.
About 20 teachers are also concerned because their employment is uncertain at this stage.
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...
'No need for early election if PM's...
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...
Second group of migrants arrives
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
93 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
C Muscat
Feb 10th, 15:59
Ghal min staqsa hemmx skola hdejja nghidlu li hemm 5 kbar. Allura bir-ragun nistaqsi lil dawn:
It-tfal taghkom marru skola jew qaghdu jistudjaw id-dar? Il-parti kbira ta' l-iskejjel qeghdin fl-abitant u allura l-MEPA tistma lil kulhadd l-istess jew tohrog dan il-permess(Messu kien approvat mal-ewwel u fi zmien ftit xhur) jew taghlaq l-iskejjel ta hdejja ghax jien nies daqws kull resident...
Ghal min semma lil tal Virtu, jista' jmur jara state of the art li sebbhet l-ambjent u l-edukazzjoni hi tali li r-rizultati huma mill-aqwa (din is-sena ikolli nxandar tat-tifel)..
Ghal min ghandu xi dubju, tjjeb li kieku jara l-file ghax veru tal-misthija dan ir-refusal dejjem jekk hawn min jaf jisthi..
U tinsewx li ahna l-genituri li nibghatu t-tfal f dawn l-iskejjel nohorgu donations bil-qalb u t-transport niehdu hsiebu ahna u xi whud jaghtu b mod volontarju kull ghajnuna....
Anthony Galea
Feb 10th, 07:57
Look at my old college kick ass! Yay for Fr Scerri, always the man!
Patrick Pace
Feb 10th, 11:25
Din mhux xi loghba football siehbi, tista tkun naqra matur, ghax qed twaqqa `your old college` ghac-cajt bil-kummenti tieghek.
A. MICALLEF
Feb 10th, 06:31
Austin Walker -Ghaliex ma tghamilx bha lta l-Imgarr Hotel ta Ghawdex u tohrog ilk-permess
GHAL-DIN ID-DARBA BISS U L-AHHAR DARBA. Hekk sar l-Imgarr Hotel sabiex id-developers
jaqqilghu il-Miljuni, u ghallura why not ghal-skola li ser igawdu wlied il-poplu ?? Id-developers
iva, imma l-poplu le ! MIN HUMA DAWN IN-NIES TA FUQ IL-BORDIIJIET, U XHEM FIL-HAJJA
PRIVATA TGHAHOM ???
Mr Mark Bartolo
Feb 9th, 23:18
The plot of land in question has been described below as a garden, when a look at the photographs quickly reveals that it is in fact an overgrown disused plot in a development zone, having existing development on all sides. The Pieta’ mayor has decided, in a separate article, that “it is not an area for a school”, when the secondary school, and before that a primary school, has been present a stone’s throw away for numerous years.
We have had the same Pieta’ mayor weeping for OPM and the undue political pressure that this protest would pile on the OPM. The petition has been referred to the Prime Minister since MEPA’s permit refusal shall hinder the implementation of a national educational reform. The Prime Minister is not only a political figure but also the head of the administrative arm of Government. There is no political pressure being exerted and nothing political about wanting to find the fastest track to implementing a solution that will benefit hundreds of children now and countless thousands in the future.
St Augustine College acted immediately to implement the reform and, in my view and contrary to accusations below of bad planning, actually set an example in logistical planning by coordinating with another Church school while scheduling the building of its own primary school and the subsequent relocation of its students. In this way, the reform could be implemented as soon as possible. What the College did not bank on was the excessive delay by MEPA in its decision regarding the permit. It is this delay that has now put into question the future schooling prospects of these children.
As for those commentators who do not approve of school children participating in this protest, or who think that they should have been in school - the children were actually protesting to have a school to be in. They were accompanied by their parents and their teachers in a united show of solidarity, which in itself is a lesson for the children and a good example set by their parents and teachers for them not to simply accept an adverse situation.
Joseph M. Grech.
Feb 9th, 22:22
Is-soltu storja - moqdi jien imur ....., u jsaqqi l-hass kulhadd!
"Ghax inkella jispoljawli l-view u l-propjeta tieghi tonqsilha l-prezz"
U ngibu elf skuza ohra, egoizmu jixghel minn kullimkien.
Min jaf kieku nghidulhom huduha intom dik l-art b'xejn u tistghu tibnuha
flok tinbena skola, min jaf kieku tindaqx l-istess diska?
U nuzaw l-MEPA u l-politika ghall-iskopijiet ulterjuri taghna!
Joe Grech
Feb 9th, 20:54
@Rector Alan Scerri - Will the building of the planned project impact at all negatively on your neighbours? If so have the decency to stop your unreasonable attitude in this situation. Don't be so selfish please. Build the new school where other residences nearby won't be spoilt. Don't be an unreasonable hog!
And that goes also for the Ecclesiastical authorities which seem to think that they are above the law. The infamous Nadur Cemetery case springs to mind. Bishops Cremona and Grech please bear in mind that people judge you by what you do and not just by what you preach. Sorry but that's the truth isn't it?
Patrick Pace
Feb 10th, 11:32
Let us not forget the recent `rape` of `Tal-Virtu` and the subsequent investigation that (much too late) established several irregularities in the allocation of a building permit for the building of the extension of the Seminary`s (yes you guessed it) Primary School. We cannot go on like this, where if I may ask, is the Archbishop in this? Does HE too believe and PRACTICE that the church is above the law?
Ivan Cocker
Feb 9th, 20:22
Thank you MEPA for putting my two boys education at risk! Shame ...
m farrugia
Feb 9th, 21:12
sorry ivan your child edu is not at risk, you have another 2 options goverment school or private both are good .1st one is free 2nd is not that is the diff.
Kenneth Williams
Feb 9th, 22:21
Where do you live Mr Cocker..not in Pieta for sure.
Franco Farrugia
Feb 9th, 22:53
Who is putting your 'boys education' at risk? There are plenty of State schools to begin with. There are plenty of Church schools. If the College wants to further develop, it should look elsewhere, and not within already over-populated precincts! Neighbours' needs - which I am not - also need to be considered. St Augustine's College is not situated in a desirable area conducive to further development. If you are a parent of one of the present students and take your son there, you should know what I am talking about.
Patrick Pace
Feb 9th, 23:57
Pass your comments to the rector who took on your kids before having the space to house them in his school only to now expect the authorities to solve his gross miscalculation by granting him permission to develop a garden into a concrete block.....why does he not take over this garden and utilise it for ecological sustainability purposes like other schools have done (see what St Aloysius have done for example) . Yes build your school but tell your rector to find an alternative site where unused buildings are sited...Malta is full to the brim with such buildings or with Church institues/convents that house only a few clergy...take over one of them, convert it in your school and you probably would have a cheaper much more sustainable alternative than going the way of our contractors and just build more concrete blocks. And PLEASE, I`ve been through the comments below.....a lot of mistakes were done in the past but as already stated TWO WRONGS NEVER MAKE A RIGHT.
Dennis Zammit
Feb 10th, 06:07
If it is this way then you put your two boys' education in a lottery as the college bet on a doubtful permit.
You should blame the College and not MEPA !
Kenneth Williams
Feb 9th, 18:51
Nispera li ma tergax iddur li storja...biex nintogbu u nigbru naqra voti. Baqalna naqra arja qed nipprotestaw biex tigi blokka gebel. Min jaf il genituri u t tfal jekk jibnu fejn joqodu huma jaccetawx. Wara kollox din ma hiex xi binja le ser tkun ghat tfal tal pieta.
C Muscat
Feb 9th, 20:46
Bhalma ghedt lil xi hadd bhalek:
Nawguralek li tixtri plot go development area jigifieri skedat ghal bini u thallih vojt!! L-ewwel ixghelint is-sulfarina biex ikollna d-dawl u l-arja
Randolph Said
Feb 9th, 21:38
Sur williams inti tahseb li jezistu hafna tfal il pieta? u anqas biss ha jibqa daqs kif ga kerrahtuh dak il post.
Ghall darba kien ser isir zvillup sura ta nies mhux qabda bini mahmug ta zmien il le?jber u xi detox mimlija nies drogati
insejta ic cumnija li tefalek dom mintoff u dak l isptar. ghall naqra ta skola moderna ser toqghod iggiba bi kbira?
Mr Mark Bartolo
Feb 9th, 21:57
Allura jekk il-binja tkun ghat tfal tal-Pieta' kollox ikun sew? Ma tibqax tikkonsidra li n-naqra arja ser isir blokka gebel?
Bhala genitur ta' wiehed mit-tfal fl-iskola primarja ta' Santu Wistin nista' nizgurak li fejn noqghodu ahna mhux naqra arja ghandna imma green area shiha li tikkonsisti f'raba mahduma, f'zona fejn il-binjiet KOLLHA ta' madwar huma biss ta' zewg sulari. Pero', kif din iz-zona saret "development zone" fl-2006, dan ma waqqafx lil MEPA japprova l-bini ta' madwar 650 appartament, b'gholi ta' erba' sulari. U ma kien hemm l-ebda konsiderazzjoni jekk ahna naccetawx jew le, ghax l-izvilupp gie approvat.
Probabbilment, hafna minn dawn l-appartamenti jibqghu vojta ghal zmien twil, waqt li l-iskola proposta tibda tinzuza mill-ewwel u konsistentament ghal hafna snin fil-futur, b'garanzija li jkun hemm il-konkorrenza qawwija tas-soltu mill-familji Maltin biex uliedhom jidhlu f'din l-iskola. Min jaf, forsi anki xi qraba tieghek.
Patrick Pace
Feb 9th, 23:41
Naqbel perfettament...minflok jiehdu `over` dan il-plott biex juzawh bhala zona ta fejn tista titkattar l-ambjent naturali malti, din l-iskola iridu jirriducu dan il-gnien ghal blokka ta konkrit. Ara San Alwigi x`ghamlu....uzaw l-artijiet biex zerghu aktar minn 7000 sigra li ghaddewhom ghat-thawwil lil gvern. Dak ezempju! Hallina rettur.....tara x`tivvinta biex tkattar il-but....Kristu meta ra nies bhalek li kasbru it-tempju t`Alla ghal fabbrika tal-flus qabzitlu bl-ikrah u qalbilhom kollox, u ghamilha cara li dawk li juzaw il-knisja ghal flus m`huma xejn hlief OQBRA IMBAJJDA. Ghalhekk inheggek tmur timmedita naqra fuq il-veru spirtu ta Kristu u IVA tkabbar l-iskola imma LE mhux fuq art hadra....sib sit iehor li huwa diga zviluppat u ikkonvertih fl-iskola primarja li trid...wara kollox billi jkollok il-primarja go rahal (basta go sit li huwa diga sviluppat u ghandu bzonn ristrutturazzjoni) u s-sekondarja go rahal iehor mhu ha jkun gara xejn.....l-edukazzjoni xorta tkun garatita u il-genituri u t-teachers mhux ser jaqalghu il-bazwa....kollox jindara! Meditare gente meditare, mela dimostrazzjoni tal-misthija ibbazata fuq bzonnijiet FINANZJARJI!
Stephen Bugeja
Feb 9th, 17:13
Can someone from Pieta please explain to me why they are not complaining about ARMS limited which has been transferred recently to Pieta, thus bringing many people (and cars) to the locality, and the Malta Enterprise offices which are found inside the building of St. Luke's hospital?
Steve Zammit
Feb 9th, 16:48
Why are these people and children protesting for? To build up a garden and develop it? You should be proud of your small garden and protect it at all costs. It could be the green lung of your school...children need open spaces and we need to let them enjoy the little greenery we have left....instead you want to build it
Who cares if it is within the development zone !! Should we build up every inch within this zone? Why do we have to lay everywhere with concrete?? if its for education, educate these students to protect what we have left and not build it komplu ibnu u sejrin ekk
C Muscat
Feb 9th, 18:45
Nawguralek li tixtri plot go development area jigifieri skedat ghal bini u thallih vojt!! L-ewwel ixghelint is-sulfarina biex ikollna d-dawl.
Steve Zammit
Feb 10th, 20:16
C Muscat kieku ghandi flus bil-qalb kollha nixtri plot go area skedata ghall-bini u fiha inhawwel is-sigar minflok, thabbilx rasek....it-tfal tieghi jrroduli hajr wara li hallejtilhom naqa spazju nadif gol-jungla ta'konkrit li tiela kullmikien, jien jimpurtani min pajjizi qabel il-flus
Nathalie Frendo
Feb 9th, 16:02
Why did the college accept these said 150 students before it actually had a place for them? Was the rector thinking that having the students first woulf bring about pity by the authorities? It was most unfair on the part of the rector to offer a place that did and does not exisit and now there is concern. A case of utter bad planning
C Muscat
Feb 9th, 16:30
Nitlob lil dawk li jikkumentaw jaraw dan il-kaz u jaraw li l-MEPA minflok 3 xhur hadet sentejn u min jifhem professjonalment jaf li ma kien hemm l-ebda raguni valida ghala il-case officer irrikmanda rejection. Dan il-bini hu mitlub skond il-ligi u kellu jinghata l-permess mal-ewwel.
Issa kull ma qieghed jitlob ir-rettur biex l-affarijiet isiru sew u jirrangaw l-affarijiet kif suppost u within the timeframes ta kif suppost u ma jergax idum sentejn meta ghandu jigi deciz fi zmien xahar jew xaharejn.
Patrick Pace
Feb 9th, 23:43
VERY VALID POINT.....EXACTLY!!!
Eman Formosa
Feb 9th, 15:45
"The Mepa board last Thursday voted 6-5 against granting the permit."
IT WAS REPORTED THIS MORNING ON TV THAT THE POLITICAL PARTIES REPRESENTATIVES ON THE MEPA BOARD WERE ABSENT FROM THE VOTE......WHY MAY I ASK?
Ms.D. Galea
Feb 9th, 22:13
THEIR children do not attend said school, one assumes.
Christine Vella
Feb 9th, 15:42
As much as I don't agree with some desicions MEPA has taken, I do agree with this one. Do you know the result of removing trees and building new schools, offices etc? More floods. We already have big problems when it rains so we best start using the abandoned buildings all around Malta. It doesnt matter if its a small area. Malta is transferring into a 'concrete jungle'.
C Muscat
Feb 9th, 16:28
This area is marked for development and within the scheme!!!
Ms.D. Galea
Feb 9th, 15:39
Sa fejn naf jien , l extenstion ta din li skola tal-Knisja, mhux sa issir fuq art agrikola jew ta' certa importanza bhal l art li fuqha inbnew li skejjel privati elitisti taz-Zebbiegh u l Imselliet.
David Smith
Feb 9th, 15:39
MEPA is expected to decide on this case solely on its own merits. But hold on, MEPA should decide on ALL cases on their own merits! Let there be no political interference on this or any other planning application. MEPA and all its officers should be held accountable for all decisions.
Ms.D. Galea
Feb 9th, 15:36
How HYPOCRITICAL of some posters who are here attacking the CHURCH school project , when said posters have sent their children to be educated in NON-CHURCH ELITIST PRIVATE SCHOOLS BUILT IN ZEBBIEGH AND IMSELLIET.
How many of these posters wrote pubilicly in the defence of the enviorment and prime agricultural land that was destroyed when these school were built?????!!!!!!
Ms.D. Galea
Feb 9th, 15:18
Kieku kienet xi moskeja ohra jew xi skola mhux tal-knisja ghal min jiflah ihallas xi elf ewro kull term, kieku kien jinghata permess.
Kieku kien xi gentleman's club kien jinghata il permess.
Kieku kienet blokka flats , hwienet u penthouses kieku tghidx kemm irreklamaw il progett bhala akkwist kbir ghal kumunita kummercjali.
Imma din skola tal-KNISJA......allura hawn , ahjar nahsbu ghal ambjent u x nigu naqu u nqumu mit ghazla tal genituri re l edukazzjoni ta' uliedhom?
L Sammut
Feb 9th, 15:02
Of course I am setting an example to my 8 year old boy...... The Government is building so many schools....... why our school can't expand and have a primary as well?. I am a parent of a year 4 student attending St Augustine College and proud of it.
C Muscat
Feb 9th, 14:34
Nitlob lil dawk li jikkumentaw jaraw dan il-kaz u jaraw li l-MEPA minflok 3 xhur hadet sentejn u min jifhem professjonalment jaf li ma kien hemm l-ebda raguni valida ghala il-case officer irrikmanda rejection. Dan il-bini hu mitlub skond il-ligi u kellu jinghata l-permess mal-ewwel.
Issa kull ma qieghed jitlob ir-rettur biex l-affarijiet isiru sew u jirrangaw l-affarijiet kif suppost u within the timeframes ta kif suppost u ma jergax idum sentejn meta ghandu jigi deciz fi zmien xahar jew xaharejn.
Niehu l-okkazjoni biex nghid lir-rettur u lil perit inkarigat biex jappellaw kif suppost u minn naha taghhom la huma urgenti jghagglu biex iressqu l-appell.
Nitlob lil Prim Ministru biex jekk ikun hemm xi hadd li ghandu konflitt ta interess ma jkunx f pozizzjoni li jaghti vot.
Franco Farrugia
Feb 10th, 08:04
@ C Muscat. Mhux minnu li qed tghid.
C Muscat
Feb 10th, 21:46
Franco Farrugia Malta zghira u n-nies maghrufa pero jien li nghid perezempju li kollox hu within the law and as per normal regulations nafhom u qrajt il-kaz ghax nizziltu minn fuq is-site tal-MEPA. Veru tal-misthija r-ragunijiet li gabu....
J Degabriele
Feb 9th, 14:26
Without going into the merits of whether MEPA was right or wrong (its track record is abysmal), I don't think that the school should have started off the 150 pupils without having a proper premises where to accept them. A case of putting the horse before the cart?!
C Muscat
Feb 9th, 15:27
This permit was straightforward within the normal scheme and guidelines and should have never been rejected. To add injury to insult, this was rejected after two years. The plan and building are within the scheme and according to local regulations.
Franco Farrugia
Feb 10th, 08:00
@ C Muscat: No, the development should have never been approved in the first place. It should be 100% rejected. The regulations demand proper entry and exit of the premises - which there are not.
Ramon Casha
Feb 9th, 14:20
This application should not be treated differently from any other, and certainly applications should not be approved simply because parties with a vested interest apply pressure as an election is approaching.
Paul Cassar
Feb 9th, 14:19
MEPA STOPS THE BUILDING OF A SCHOOL
............................BUT GRANTS THE BUILDING OF A VILLA ON THE BAHRIJA VALLEY FLOOR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ray Sultana
Feb 9th, 14:18
This is absolutely shameful. This undue pressure must stop immediately. It is scandalous that an educational institution belonging to the Church wants to continue with the destruction of the environment, to bypass rules and to have its own way.
The built-up area in question is extremely dense and the littel greenery there is left should be preserved. I am sure that a solution can be found that would leave the gardens intact.
I believe protecting the environment should be an integral part of educational policy as opposed to the complete disregard for the environment that the school authorites are showing.
Wenzu Cole
Feb 9th, 15:01
are you serious????? Have you seen in which state these so called gardens are????
It's just an abandoned piece of land
Ms.D. Galea
Feb 9th, 15:20
Mr Sultana, il-progett tak f ghajnek ghax hu tal-Knisja.
Xi gnien?
Ray Sultana
Feb 9th, 19:28
@ Wenzu Cole For a long time the trick has been to leave a piece of land become "abandoned" and then say that's it's better to develop it. It's unbuilt land in the middle of a dense urban area and it should be left as such. Unbuilt land, especially in urban areas is extremely rare in Malta. In many other places, even big cities with very high population densities, gardens (whether public or private) are jealously conserved and if necessary restored. This is because people have realised that they contribute to good quality of life of residents (no, I don't live in the area and don't have a personal interest). A garden, even though abandoned, can easily be transformed into a peaceful oasis, but if the site is developed, the area would be lost forever.
@ Sinjura Galea, le mhux ghax il-progett hu tal-Knisja imma ghax inhoss li ghandna bzonn niehdu ħsieb tal-ftit spazji miftua li fadal f'Malta. Jien stess ircevejt l-edukazzjoni tieghi fi skola tal-Knisja u assolutament m'ghandi xejn kontra l-iskejjel ta-Knisja. Fil-passat ktibt konta zvilupp selvagg ieħor li sar f'Malta. Inhoss li l-Knisja ghanda tkun minn ta' quddiem fil-harsien ta' l-ambjent u mhux tikkontribwixxi ghall-qerda ta' l-ambjent kif sfortunatament sar fil-kazi tac-cimiterju tan-Nadur u l-iskola f' Tal-Virtù. Nahseb li tista tinstab soluzjoni mingħajr ma jinqerdu l-gonna.
Franco Farrugia
Feb 10th, 08:03
@ Ray Sultana: I agree with you completely. It is downright shameful and the College's headmaster should be called in to account over his decision to bring out the students into the street to protest.
@ Wenzu Cole: The state of the gardens is really not a factor of importance, here. Of course the gardens are being left in a bad state - they probably belong to the school and being left like that for purpose. At any rate, they are still 'gardens' and can be easily done up again.
@ Ms D. Galea: Ma jfisser xejn jekk progett hux tal-Knisja jew le. Fil-fatt, mhux tal-Knisja ghax huwa progett tal-Patrijiet Agostinjani (li ghandi rispett kbir lejhom, imma...!) u ma jfissirx li kull progett tal-Knisja ghandu jigi approvat.
R. Abela
Feb 9th, 14:01
I have 2 questions to be asked by the political Parties;
1) Why the representatives of the political parties were ABSENT when the MEPA board was called to vote
on the issue;
2) What is the position of PN, PL & AD about these permits.
It's the RIGHT time for the POLITICAL PARTIES to take a straight forward stand about these new permits, and makes us believe Who really wants the best EDUCATION to our children. WE people in the street hears a lot of WORDS about which POLITICAL PARTY wants the best of our children future but WORDS MUST be MATERIALIZED to believe now.
Victor Laiviera
Feb 9th, 13:59
Those children should be taught how to respect the environment, not how to ruin it for their own convenience.
If that school were to be built, would they have lessons about Civil Responsibility and Care of The Environment?
What will they call them - Classes in Hypocrisy?
jimi Xerri
Feb 9th, 14:39
They certainly don't need any lessons from you sir!
Ms.D. Galea
Feb 9th, 15:08
Are the children of the elite in the select NON-CHURCH private school built on agricultural land in Mgarr taught Civil Responsaibility and Care of the Enviorment?
Victor Laiviera
Feb 9th, 15:18
I have no idea, Ms Galea - but I DO know that two wrongs never made a right.
Ms.D. Galea
Feb 9th, 22:08
Did you protest OFFICIALLY when prime agricultural land land in Mselliet and Zebbiegh was ruined forever to accomodate the children of the select ELITIST few in a position to afford the exorbitant fees asked?
Mr M Spiteri
Feb 9th, 22:33
Our children already got the environmental lesson when MEPA approved an HFO Power Station
Victor Vella
Feb 9th, 13:56
Why Gonzi did not come out to face the pain of those students and parents? When a group of illegal emigrants left Malta he found enough time to spare to go to the airport to shake their hands.A real example of a person away from the people. This is the way people are treated. Shame on you Gonzi. A real party made of oligarchy to the oligarchy.
Francis Bonello
Feb 9th, 13:35
No permit for a school, but who knows if the eye sore at Old Bakery street, will be DEMOLISHED
carmel muscat
Feb 9th, 13:31
mela stahbejtu dawk li issoltu toqodu tigu hawn u tiktbu fil vojt u tipuntaw subajkom lejn dak u lohra jaqawn li il M E P A tohrog permess ghat tfal taghna muwiex ghal gid ta uliedna nistaqsi jien????? mela qumu mir raqda u ghajdu li il M E P ma ghamlitx sew li zammet permess ghal skola fuq kollox jekk il permess johrog jaf li it tifel tijjek jew ta uliedek wkoll ghad jistu jibenefikaw min din liskola jew intom min dawk li kif jajd il qawl ingliz I AM OK F_ _K YOU JACK ????? - - - - - - - - -
Noel Mifsud
Feb 9th, 15:28
Filwaqt li ma naqbilx mal MEPA dwar il bini tal bahrija, tal belt, tal wied tal mosta u ta hafna izjed bini jekk sabu iggezzjoni valida mhux se nghid xejn. Jekk kienet valida naqbel mal MEPA pero nitlob li jitnehhew il bini kollu li nharreg imma mhux siuppost. Int ghedt Im ok u komplejt jine nghid li TWO WRONGS DONT MAKE A RIGHT u dik verita.
Franco Farrugia
Feb 10th, 07:56
@ carmel muscat: Iva, il-MEPA qed taghmel sew li zzomm dan il-permess ghall-izvilupp ta' skola ohra fl-abita fil-Pieta. Mela sempliciment ghax 'ghall-gid ta' uliedna' ghandu jaqa' kollox u jsir kollox kif trid int u kif irid haddiehor, jew? Iva, il-MEPA s'issa qed tagixxi sew. M'hemmx post ta' skola ohra fiz-zona mmarkata. M'ghandux xejn x'jaqsam li dan il-bini huwa skola li minnu se jibbenefika haddiehor: il-punt, sur Muscat, huwa li fil-post imsemmi, m'hemmx toroq sura ta' nies ta' dhul u ta' hrug, u l-izvilupp propost se jaghmel hsara kbira lill-hajja tal-abitanti tal-madwar.
U meta tikteb fil-publiku, kun ftit iktar pulit u bi stil.
james zammit
Feb 9th, 13:25
Gonzi l-aqwa l-poter u mhux l-interess tat-tfal ghax dawk kannoli bla krema, kien jghid xi hadd. IL-president ghandu jintervjeni ghax din hi haga li tolqot il-familja inkella l-presidenza qieghda hemm ghac-cerimonja biss.
William Calleja
Feb 9th, 13:45
Maybe if the citizens of this island had actually the right to vote for their president, he could he held accountable to them since he'd really be representing their wishes. Unfortunately the president represents the small elite vanguard of criminals that put him there and nobody else.
Mr Ernest Vella
Feb 9th, 13:45
james...Gonzi l-aqwa l-poter...mela l-MePA mhux indipendenti? Ara tal-LAbour, ha jivvuttaw kontra l-ligi ta l-edukazzjoni li huma jaqblu maghha...ma jitwemminx li mhux ser imiss l-istipendji u nfakkar li l-Gvern ta l-1981 ghalaq l-iskejjel tal-Knisja u mhux taghhom il-flus biex jinbdew skejjel isbah.
Franco Farrugia
Feb 9th, 13:55
Hmerijiet!
Nazzareno Cortis
Feb 9th, 15:27
Sur Ernest vella------ghall informazzjoni tieghek,u forsi ta dawk ta eta zghira, l-istipendji kien gvern laborista ta Mintoff li introduca ghall ewwel darba dawn l-istipendji lill istudenti,fis 70's------u bilhaqq---il parlamentari nazzjonalisti kienu iv vutaw kontra----bhall ma kienu iv vutaw kontra meta gew introdotti ghall ewwel darba l-pensjonijiet ghall anzjani!!!!!!
Curt Spiteri
Feb 9th, 17:40
Ezattt Mr.Cortiss, Mintoff huwa l-eroj ta Maltaa peroo mbad meta spicca mintoff il PL spiccaaa!! il-PL irid ikisser dak kollu li tant hadem ghalih mintoff... almenu il-PN l-affarijiet li hadem alijom mintoff zammom u sahhahom aktar!!
Franco Farrugia
Feb 10th, 07:58
Jien niftakar lil Mintoff, KMB u l-Partit Laburista taghhom ikissru lill-Universita, gebla, gebla! U mela stipendji!
james zammit
Feb 9th, 13:18
Il-Mepa hi wahda mid-downfall talPN ghax ma min trid helwa u kas bhal dan ser toqghod tfettaq. Dr. Gonzi jhobb jinqeda bil-knisja imma ghax . honest ma jindahalx. Jekk jitla l-PL ghandu jdur u jqalfat dawn il-bravi tal-MEPA ghax qaghzzuna.
Joe A. Borg
Feb 9th, 13:15
at a time when we have an ageing population, I think it would make more sense to invest in an old people's home.
The government is planning to close down a number of schools due to lack of students and since many have moved to the new schools.
After all, the church is loosing money from these school since parents expect to send their children to a so called private school at a cheap rate to the detriment of the tax payers.
William Calleja
Feb 9th, 13:43
Detriment of the tax payers? The goverment pays Church Schools 43 million euroes yearly in subsidies. Private schools get nothing. How is it that the tax payer is being detrimented by the private schools? especially since after taking in the millions in subsidies church schools have the gall to demand 'voluntary donations' to the tune of several hundred euros per annum from the parents (obviously non taxable). So once again, how is the tax payer deing detrimented by private schools?
Ms Gemma Axiaq
Feb 9th, 17:29
To William Calleja
Please sir, get to know the facts well before speaking!
Mr M Spiteri
Feb 9th, 23:03
Dear Mr Borg,
First of all have you asked the question as to why there is a lesser demand for government schools. Have you asked as to why there is a migration from state schools to church schools. Probably not. The answer is simple. State schools are failing big, notwithstanding the millions that the government is spending on education. One has to admit that today the end product from church schools is much better. For the record I was educated in a state school - the best there ever was - Tal-Handaq. But that is the past and Tal-Handaq is long gone.
As to you uninformed comments about tax payers money, please take note that us parents that send our children to church schools, relieve the country’s coffers from school maintenance, school transport, schools books and other school running expenses and we do not get any tax refunds. Children in church schools are the least costly to the country’s coffers. The state only pays for the teacher’s salary which is approx €700 per student annually. On the other hand children attending state schools get everything for free whilst parents of children in paying private schools get tax reductions of €1200 to €1600.
Ms Maria Vella
Feb 9th, 13:07
am sorry for the teachers who are suffering this uncertainty but what makes this school above the rest and expect to have permit approved if it shoudln't be?
John Cauchi
Feb 9th, 13:06
Just send them to the state schools.................Please stop suffocating any areas which still holds a fraction of room......sorry to much of building.
Welldone Mepa
R Axisa
Feb 9th, 16:13
'Just send them to the statel schools' - nixtieq inkun naf dwar dawk il-membri parlamentari /ministri li tant jiftahru bl-iskejjel tal-istat, kemm jibaghtu lil uliedhom f'dawn l-iskejjel jew fl-iskejjel tal-knisja! Interessanti nkunu nafu!
Christina Pace
Feb 9th, 13:05
find somewhere else to build and show that your school values health and environment.
Franco Farrugia
Feb 10th, 07:53
@ Ms Pace: Exactly.
Patricia Mifsud
Feb 9th, 13:02
I think that it's shameful that the parents and teachers are giving the students such a bad example! Let's say, for the sake of argument, that MEPA revokes its decision because of the protest. What lesson have the students been taught? When things don't go your way, then take to the streets and protest. The law of the jungle will prevail. Yes, that's the perfect way of educating the next generation.
Guido Farrugia
Feb 9th, 14:15
What a pathetic way of interpratation. Mela noqodu kwieti u kollox jaghdi. Yes, it realy is a good lesson to our children to stand up and be counted. Comparing the law of the jungle with building a school is unheard of. You should be ashamed of yourself Ms. Mifsud
Wenzu Cole
Feb 9th, 15:03
Yes it is. Always fight for your rights!!!!
As small/young some one might be they still have a voice that should be heard. If it means take it to the streets then so be it!!
Mr M Spiteri
Feb 9th, 15:35
Really pathetic
Franco Farrugia
Feb 9th, 22:50
It is really pathetic that students and young children were involved in this matter.
Victor Laiviera
Feb 9th, 12:48
What does the Environment Commission set up by the Maltese Church have to say about this?
http://maltadiocese.org/lang/en/secretariat-commissions/environment-commission/
Peter Zahra
Feb 9th, 12:47
This is another example for one weight two measures. I wonder how Mepa issued a permit a couple of years ago for a school to be built in the middle of a pristine valley in Mgarr, while now it is refusing to issue the permit for this particular school to make an extension in a built up area…. ???
Franco Farrugia
Feb 10th, 07:52
@ Mr Zahra: I beg to differ. While I am not condoning permits given in Mgarr, OVER TWENTY YEARS AGO, I ask you to visit the area in question in Pieta' and see for yourself where the Augustinians want to thrust this development!
Dennis Zammit
Feb 9th, 12:42
Uncertain employment for the teachers . . .
They knew that their job was subject to the approval of the permits from MEPA notwithstanding the fact that the college rector and all knew that the project couldn't be approved.
They took an calculated risk. The college is to blame and not MEPA.
Guido Farrugia
Feb 9th, 14:19
the college rector and all knew that the project couldn't be approved.
Is there something you know which the Rev. Rector did'nt know? Ridiculous comment, if not ulterior interest.
Franco Farrugia
Feb 9th, 22:49
What 'uncertain employment for the teachers' are you talking about? The teachers employed by the College, teach the classes already there - the secondary. Think before you write.
Johnny Xerri
Feb 9th, 12:37
Instead of appelaing on th emerits of the refusal we issue a stupid slogan and expect to get a positive reply.
Of course education is a must but this does not mean that the end justifies the means and that we should disregard planning laws simply because it is a school.
Franco Farrugia
Feb 9th, 12:28
Mela issa tajjeb ... meta jkolli xi tieqa li l-MEPA ma tapprovalix, ghal xi raguni, jew xi permess ma johrogx, niehu lil uliedi mill-iskola fejn ikunu u mmur Kastilja nipprotesta. Dawk l-istudenti, posthom fl-iskola, mhux jiggerrew barra jipprotestaw!
William Calleja
Feb 9th, 13:41
Mr. Farrugia, if any institution acts against your interest and you do not protest, you will be responsible for yoru own misery. And if you took 1 minute to read the article you'd find out that joining the students are parents and teachers. also some of the so called students are 'Former-stuents' showing solidarity with their younger bretheren. Instead of training yoru children to be mindless drones and slaves to the government maybe you should consider teaching them to applaud people who have the courage to speak up against injustice so that maybe they would do the same and we would all have a better country.
Franco Farrugia
Feb 9th, 22:48
'Injustice' - according to you. 'Better country' by further development? Hallina.
Franco Farrugia
Feb 10th, 07:50
Dear Mr Calleja, I reiterate that a headmaster bringing out his students onto the streets, whether with parents and with teachers, is an intolerable act of aggression against those same students. I feel that his superiors should seriously consider asking him to resign over this matter - it is quite apparent that the Headmaster has lost control over the issue and is trying to foment public sentiment over a lost case.
In all this, the voices of the neighbours have not been heard. Only the school's.
It's not a question of not 'training childrren to be mindless' but this is a question of using children, and their parents, and the teachers, perhaps even coercing them - did the children really want to go there? - to help in a case which is none of the business of the students themselves.