Controversial €8m Church school in Rabat inaugurated
Residents say parking problems are only prelude of things to come
The €8 million primary school at the Archbishop’s Seminary, in Tal-Virtù, Rabat, which was highly contested by residents, was officially inaugurated by Archbishop Paul Cremona yesterday.
Spread over 9,000 square metres, the school was built in the span of a year and includes 24 classrooms, an indoor play hall, a music room, labs and an auditorium as well as a care centre for the employees’ children.
It is equipped with interactive white boards, Wi-Fi connectivity and environmentally-friendly features, such as intelligent lighting, insulation and solar heating.
“The Church has been engaged in education for centuries, even in our islands. For the same reason, even today, the Church chose to support the education reform with a great sense of responsibility,” Mgr Cremona said.
Together with state and independent schools, the reform “seeks to achieve” children’s interests.
“Investing once more in education, it is the Church’s hope that it will continue to contribute to society and to parents and families,” Mgr Cremona said.
The primary school, which opened its doors for the first time this academic year, has 300 students, a figure that is expected to rise to 825 over the next few years.
The development was fiercely contested by about 200 Tal-Virtù residents who signed a petition and even filed a judicial protest. They turned to the planning authority auditor who slammed the process and described the case officer’s assessment as “sheer incompetence or abuse”.
The planning authority, however, forged ahead with the permit.
Joseph Stafrace, a spokesman for Tal-Virtù residents, said the cars of those invited to the inauguration ceremony filled the new car park and overflowed onto the streets, proving the residents’ fears.
“This is the prelude of things to come. One has to bear in mind that no traffic impact assessment was ever requested or commissioned by the authorities during the accelerated processing of this development application. It is a clear case of two weights, two measures,” he added.
The school population will increase gradually over the years and the full impact will only be felt in two years’ time, Mr Stafrace noted.
He said residents feared that the staff car park would be used by minivans and parents to drop off and collect students.
The residents are insisting a traffic management plan and noise mitigation measures should be put in place, following consultation.