The Malta Union of Teachers has hit out at plans for an extension of the Middle School building at Victoria, Gozo, to house a primary school, arguing that it would further reduce limited outdoor space and sunlight in the school.

The union said plans submitted to the Planning Authority for a proposed new primary school showed that rather than a new school building, an extension would be made of the Middle School to house childcare, kindergarten and primary school students.

It pointed out that the Middle School, which was refurbished in the past years, has limited outdoor space and facilities and students have to use the facilities of the adjacent Secondary School. The proposed extension would further reduce the outdoor space, leading to insufficient facilities for the Middle School students and the proposed childcare, kindergarten and primary school students.

Furthermore, the proposal would see one of the schools sandwiched between the other one and the Sports Complex, limiting sunlight in the classrooms.

The Ninu Cremona block should be returned to the school and used for primary classes, the MUT said.

The MUT wondered why the dilapidated building (known as Ninu Cremona block) in the same schools complex was not used for the new primary school, after rehabilitation.

It said it could not understand how the block, which was always part of the schools complex, has been passed to the Museums Department but then was never used. 

The union said it viewed this block as the natural site for a new primary school whilst an alternative site should be provided to the Museums Department.