The Pembroke primary school recently inaugurated is another in a series of new and renovated schools, a direct result of free and quality education for all.
In this day and age, when it comes to education, be it at primary, secondary or tertiary level, the discussion is not focused on what's "free" but, rather, on the "quality" of what is provided. Expectations are high and rightly so. High quality education for a typical student translates into modern, spacious, lighted classrooms having state-of-the-art educational equipment.
An essential requisite in any classroom is the computer and each classroom in the Pembroke school is equipped with four such devices. This does not in any way amount to luxury because, in today's world, children at such a tender age should become accustomed to gain the necessary ICT skills.
A first in its kind on our islands, the energy requirements necessary for the effective running of this school are to be met through renewable energy resources: Photovoltaic cells, solar water heaters and a wind turbine, all of which convert natural energy sources into electrical power.
What better "environmental environment", may I ask, would serve as an example to these young children in their appreciation of the negative effects resulting from human-induced development and environmental exploitation and in understanding that there are ways forward that are compatible with nature.
The purposeful use of a wind turbine in a place geared at education also goes to show how silent such innovative mechanisms are. Small wind turbines on roofs are a recent complement one needs to become accustomed to as the country steps up its efforts to adopting and investing in clean energy-production systems.
According to research, children have a central role to play when exposed to such technology. The young will educate older generations, effectively their parents and grandparents, once back at home, by increasing their awareness of climate change and helping to understand the need, use and functionality of this green technology.
In this light, it would be advisable for the government to extend this carbon-neutral policy to other state-owned schools and for teachers to ensure that their students are aware of the presence of such systems.
High quality education is, however, not solely dependent on available tangible facilities that make knowledge more readily available.
Real education also needs to consider the essential value of non-formal subjects. With this in mind, the school is equipped with classes tailor-made for the teaching of music, arts and the formation of the personal and social development of the student.
Sports is also a necessary ingredient in the weekly students` schedule and Pembroke primary school is equipped with well-designed playgrounds and an indoor gymnasium, which will provide the students with the opportunity to practise various sport disciplines.
Some parents tend to miss the whole point behind sports and its contribution towards the physical and mental development of the individual (mens sana in corpore sano) and focus exclusively on the formal part of education. Being solely knowledgeable in this day and age without possessing the necessary social skills is of little use in the challenging roles at the workplace.
The facilities at the Pembroke school also provide a childcare centre service, which can cater for up to 80 children. Parents of students living in the area or in the immediate vicinity now have the possibility to make use of this service. Such facilities provide adults with every possibility of enhancing their professional career, while simultaneously seeing to their parental responsibilities.
Rather than a mere one-off, the inauguration of the Pembroke school is one in a serious of new schools being built as part of the educational policy being adopted. With three new schools completed throughout the past three years, this school, together with another two to be inaugurated in the next two years, more Maltese children will continue to receive free and high-quality education.
On a separate note, little has been said in the media about the fact that public expenditure on this investment has amounted to €1 million below what was actually projected. So much is said when public projects overshoot their planned budget but little when the budget is adhered to and even less when savings are made. Let us give credit where credit is due this time!