After fleeing the Nazis, Brother Edward Galea went on to become one of the longest-serving De La Salle Brothers. As he turns 85 this month, he speaks to Herman Grech about dwindling values and vocations.

The silence hanging on the driveway of De La Salle College in Cospicua on a hot summer afternoon is almost eerie. The animated shrieks of the 1,600 students, which prevail during the scholastic season, are absent.

Exacerbated by the light breeze and 35°C temperature, the stench from the neighbouring farm is almost unbearable. The windows of the modest Brothers' House are wide open, with the odd electric fan circulating the smell of manure.

Bro. James, 92, is at his computer, doing what he has been perfecting for decades - translating from English to French to Spanish to Maltese.

Bro. Martin, the 72-year-old former headmaster and former champion of the Church school cause, is watching the latest news of bloodshed in Iraq on Al Jazeera in the so-called Common Room, which is stacked up with religious books and statues of Our Lady.

Offering a fragile handshake, Bro. Edward is wearing the Brothers' traditional black cassock with the long white Roman collar he has been donning for 65 years. Contrary to the vast majority of other Brothers, and despite the heat, he rarely wears a layman's clothes.

"This is me... I will not change," he says.

For Bro. Edward, every course of life is inspired by what he calls "intervention from above", including the day his aunt decided to drag him to the Brothers in 1939 in search of a teaching job.

Despite being one of the best students at the time, Edward had failed his maths exam and he feared his plans of becoming a teacher would fizzle into nothing.

His parents insisted he should not go to work at the dockyard, even if it was one of the best employers at the time. His aunt told the Brothers: "Edward has failed his exams but he still wants to become a teacher."

The Brother in charge smiled and replied that Edward would become a teacher if that was his wish.

"I believe God has a plan for every person. I had never met a Brother and I didn't know what it entailed to become one. I knew they were teachers and that they were religious but at that age you wouldn't know the real meaning," Bro. Edward smiles.

A year later, in May 1939, he left for France to pursue his studies, together with two other young Maltese men, Louis and Norbert. They started studying in earnest, but the Nazi occupation of France meant it was going to be an uphill struggle.

The Germans confiscated whatever they could find, Bro. Edward recalls. Poverty swept France and food was in scarce supply, with sardines and a small breadstick the only dish on the menu for the entire day.

The congregation used to rely to a certain extent on a Brother who used to smuggle food from Spain. Still, the 20-year-old students were urged to put the little bread they didn't need in a basket to give to the more needy - every day it used to be filled up. That was the real religious formation for the young Bro. Edward.

The studies were abruptly aborted in 1942, when three Nazi officers turned up at the Brothers' house in France.

They specifically asked to see the three Maltese Brothers - Edward, Louis and Norbert - since Malta was colonised at the time, they were British subjects.

"We were present in the house but the director realised our probable fate and told them we had left the building... it was providential. The Germans didn't say a word and they left. I don't know how they found out we were there. The director called us, told us to pack up our suitcases and to leave that very day."

With a fake ID card in their wallets, Bro. Louis and Bro. Norbert agreed to go to Lyons and Bro. Edward went to study in the south of France. Unaware of the risk they were taking, they rode on a train full of German soldiers. But luckily for the three young Maltese Brothers the passengers on that particular trip were not asked for any documentation.

"They were unaware we were British subjects... it must have been divine intervention", Bro. Edward repeats, pointing to the ceiling.

Bro. Edward started teaching practice with French boys. He still has a copybook with the students' names and marks he awarded them.

They were unaware we were British subjects... it must have been divine intervention

In 1945, the three Brothers returned to Malta, an island clearly still bearing the scars of the vicious blitz. The Cottonera area was in ruins, the windows and doors of the school that the De La Salle Brothers had built in 1903 were shattered. But that did little to dissuade Edward's determination in his new mission.

"In the beginning I wanted to become a teacher, not a Brother or a priest. But God put the words in my aunt's mouth. Little by little you realise what religion's about and you gradually get to know if you want to continue this life."

The purpose of the Brothers, started by St John Baptist De La Salle, is to meet the educational and welfare needs of young people. When the Brothers first began, more than 300 years ago, they were mostly teachers based in schools. Today there are more than 5,000 Brothers working in 80 countries, several in missionary roles.

But like several other religious vocations, the De La Salle Brothers are a dying breed. In 1945 there were 11 young Brothers serving in Malta. Now there are seven Brothers at the college in Cospicua and all are well into pension age.

There was a time when the majority of teachers were Brothers - now the running of the schools is increasingly being handed over to lay persons. The last man to take the plunge into the Brotherhood did so over 20 years ago. The few young men who chose this path some years ago left the order to concentrate solely on teaching. Others could not handle the thought of celibacy and started a family.

Why are people reluctant to become Brothers?

Bro. Edward has several explanations: "I can list a number of people who wanted to become Brothers but their parents didn't allow them because they think being a Brother is not good enough.

The majority of couples today have one or two children - would you give your son up for a religious life? Students will easily say they want to become Brothers when they are still at school but then they change their minds."

But he believes that sometimes the Brothers' community is not doing enough to rope others onboard, though he has not given up - yet.

For the last two years, courses in the La Sallian ethos are being given to a group of teachers to ensure the founder's message prevails along the years.

"We have to start from Form 3. Lately there is a revival. Even some young lay people in the school are trying to take boys for weekend retreats and live-ins", he says, pointing out that three of the six priests recently ordained were former De La Salle students.

Even if the Brothers' presence in Malta had to eventually fizzle out, Bro. Edward is convinced this will be down to fate.

There was a time when St John Baptist De La Salle (himself a priest) prepared one of the Brothers to become a priest. He thought it would be a good idea to have one priest in every community to serve the Brothers. But a few months before his consecration, the Brother died and De La Salle decided the Brothers should not become priests.

The Brothers live like a family. They attend Mass daily at 6.30 a.m. before assuming different teaching and managerial roles in the school. Each Brother has his own room and at teatime they get together, before another session of meditation. Nobody does anything by himself and they work as a community, not as individuals. They do not get paid and the money which comes in goes to the community.

"This is our life and people don't understand it. They expect us to go into retirement when we reach 61 years. We carry on until the end."

Despite six-and-a-half decades serving students in the name of God, Bro. Edward still shows no signs of abating.

Even now, we need to educate the boys first; the teaching comes second

"I'm still present in class and I still teach. I prepare Year 6 boys for the Gospel. I go to every Mass in school, and hold talks with them. I'm very active. We need to continue forming the character of the students. Even now, we need to educate the boys first; the teaching comes second."

Yet, he underlines the big difference between teaching in 1945 and today, as the family structure changes drastically, and values fall by the wayside.

"In the past, the family was a family. Now, more or less we are replacing the parents as well. A number of parents put their child through De La Salle and we are left to deal with them.

"De La Salle used to tell us that parents are preoccupied to earn their living because they were very poor. Now they are poor because children are not being cared for enough. Several parents buy everything for their children but that's where it stops. We have a lot of broken families and there is no unity at home.

"Students will say they did their homework at their mother's house, the next day at their father's, the following day at their aunt's. In every class you have five or six like that."

Students, aged 10 and 11, are already reluctant to follow religious studies closely because their parents do not attend Sunday Mass. La Sallian teachers have a duty to teach the way of life, Bro. Edward says.

He takes a long pause to reflect on whether the average student lacks the most basic education and manners.

It upsets Bro. Edward even more knowing the De La Salle Brothers once hosted the best students in Malta, when entry into their schools was down to a gruelling process. But then came the controversial ballot system in the late 1980s and the very popular Church schools had no choice but to open their doors to students from all walks of life.

"It's very hard nowadays, but we accept everyone. We have facilitators and teachers who take in small groups (of weak students) and try to make sure that one day they will be able to go to class and follow with the rest."

At first the staff was reluctant to accept everybody, but over time, facilitators have been introduced and the results are improving, especially since most of De La Salle's Fifth Formers proceed with their studies, he says.

"We have to adapt ourselves - it's no longer just about O- and A- levels. You don't expect students in the Fifth Form's six classes to get O-levels of the highest standard. We're doing our best, but there are boys who won't make the grade.

"It wasn't the case in the past. In the past, those that failed did so because they didn't want to pass. Now, you have to struggle to get a good number of them to study," he says.

Every class nowadays has at least one facilitator, with boys who cannot get more than a 30 per cent pass mark being allocated special teachers.

Is it one of the most difficult periods for education in Malta?

"To impart knowledge - yes it is. The teachers have to be on the alert continuously. You might realise that half the children in front of you don't know what you're talking about."

The preamble to the ballot system was the Church schools' dispute in 1984, which Bro. Edward recalls as one of the saddest periods for the school.

"We were locked in and there were soldiers at the gate. At one point the soldiers told us they were there to protect us because the dockyard people were going to attack us - but we know they were just rumours."

With tempers flaring beyond the gates, a group of dedicated parents maintained a moonlight vigil, forming an iron curtain of protection for their children's tutors. One of the Brothers made arrangements to stay with the Capuchins for a couple of months. Eventually the teachers were allowed to turn up for Mass on Sunday, at which they used to communicate with the Brothers. It was terrible.

De La Salle College had almost 200 boarders then, and when they returned from their summer holidays they were told the school was closed. They went back home and just 80 returned when the school reopened.

"As religious people we said this is another call from God and we decided to stop the boarders' concept - instead, the number of day boys increased."

Throughout the interview, Bro. Edward finds it difficult to recall specific incidents which have chiselled his career. He does not even remember if he ever resorted to using the infamous 'stick' to discipline students, though The Sunday Times photographer claims he was once subjected to Bro. Edward's wrath, though he admits he deserved the punishment.

"Did I really? I don't recall. That's not my way. I still prefer the good word and I always give people a chance. The way to impose punishment has changed. Is it right? Is it wrong?" he asks, aware that the lack of harsh discipline in many schools has backfired.

Doesn't he think the authorities are treating students with kids' gloves?

"I still see students outside the headmaster's office and ask them what they've done wrong - of course they always want to blame the other. Where is the discipline today? Parents must start when the children are young."

He says he would like the school to establish more contact with the parents to discuss non-academic matters.

"We need to tell the parents how to behave at home, how to educate their own children, how to do things as a family - how they should greet each other, how to say 'thank you' to each other.

"At school I greet everyone with a 'good morning' but I hardly hear a reply. The Sixth Formers do, but the youngsters don't. I expect them to come up to me and say 'good morning'."

Still, Bro. Edward makes it clear that he still shares the same enthusiasm for the school he first set foot into when World War II broke out.

He shows The Sunday Times around the newest additions of the college, including the new synthetic turf pitch. He recalls it was De La Salle College which hosted Malta's first gymnasium, and its sister college Stella Maris started the first computer lessons.

He likes meeting old students, though he admits he hardly ever remembers names. He has, after all, come across tens of thousands of them.

"I have never heard any former students saying they regretted attending this school. Sadly, former students sometimes come to look for certain Brothers and we tell them they've passed away.

"I think every Brother is giving his life for the children. Our role is similar to a father of a family - only we have thousands of children."

He makes it clear that, health permitting, he intends to continue teaching for several years to ensure St John Baptist De La Salle's message transcends more generations.

"Recently, a group of Fifth Formers asked me if I would choose this vocation again if I had to restart my life all over - and I said I definitely would. I have no regrets. I think a Brother should die at school - hopefully not in class, because that would frighten the children - but I really hope I can contribute till the very end."