St Albert the Great College, in Valletta, being located in the midst of the culture capital, has its advantages and disadvantages.

The safety of the children we’re trusted with is top priority. Yet, while inside the school measures to safeguard children are thoroughly discussed and initiatives taken, with little importance bing given to the financial costs involved, this does not seem to be the case outside the building.

The college is located at a corner between the rather busy Old Bakery Street and Old Theatre Street. Our emergency assembly point is St George’s Square. Children exit from two separate doors and move on two opposing sides of Old Theatre Street towards the square. Unfortunately, this is becoming increasingly difficult as parked vehicles sometimes block the narrow road leaving little space for children to walk unconstrained.

We are not calling for Old Theatre Street to be pedestrianized: it is supposed to become so after 9am. This provision is however being flouted with impunity day in day out. We are simply calling for the law to be observed and respected. Not only are the bollards that should be in place after 9am never there but some vans use the narrow street as a two-way road, sometimes driving in the opposite direction.

The school has contacted Transport Malta several times via e-mails. Though we got an immediate answer, the situation remains, apparently, overlooked. E-mails sent to Valletta local council and the Office of the Prime Minister were also directed to Transport Malta but Old Theatre Street remains open to traffic at all times of the day. This has been going on for months.

Why do we have to wait for a tragedy to happen before we decide to take action?