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I refer to Frans Sammut’s letter, published in your newspaper. For the information of your readers, Mr Sammut had already sent an email (with more or less the very same comments he made in his letter) on the 9 August, and its contents had already been passed on to the competent persons for any action on their part. However, Mr Sammut puts forward a number of comments which we feel require answering.
First of all we would like to acknowledge with appreciation Sammut’s positive comments regarding the ‘work of the highest standard with the same symmetry all round the façade’ done at this school. Yes, the Ministry of Education, through FTS, took all possible care to ensure that Luqa children, parents and teachers will have an educational facility of the best quality possible.
Another comment relates to old stone motifs on the columns making up the school’s perimeter wall, which he adds have not been reinstated. As all Luqa people know the boundary wall pilasters were in fact very much deteriorated and had to be re-erected anew basically on the same design and size. We wish to re-assure Sammut that many of the old stone motifs capitals were reinstated on their new pilasters. But it must be noted that some of the old motifs were so badly deteriorated that they had to be replaced by new ones with the same motif. The lower parts – still not in place – are also being done and will be fixed in place by the contractor shortly. Besides, Mr Sammut wrongly suspects that the deteriorated capitals were taken away and ‘dumped in some quarry’. Instead, one will be able to find them as decorations in the internal yards.
Sammut’s remark regarding the effect on the aesthetics of the building by the exclusion of the air ventilators on the upper floor is a legitimate remark. The approved designs of the front and side elevations of the upper floor of the façade have left these ventilators out as the apertures on the inside of the building provide more than enough light and fresh air. However the matter will continue to be considered for any possible remedy to further enhance the symmetry of the façade.
Mr Sammut also comments on the removal of trees, one in particular, and questions the need for works in the front garden of the school. Yes there are valid reasons for these works. The works contemplated are based on “fitness for purpose”, and our consultations with the school head clearly indicated that the school needed the extra space on the front as a children’s play-area. The old front garden consisted of a relatively dangerous area for school children with trees, mostly oleander, surrounded by very sharp stones (gagazza). In fact, this area was never used for recreational activities by the school. Indeed, the said trees were taken up and a new 270 square-metre play area for children with coloured safety rubber tiles is now being constructed. Once the works are complete, Mr Sammut will note that existing Cupressus, palm trees, and citrus trees were left in their original place, and 16 Olea trees, 6 Ceratonia, 4 Quercus, Jacaranda, Brachychiton and other trees were also planted. Three mature trees were left in the central area and more trees are proposed to blend with the landscaping. Trees that were taken up were removed only after consultation with the Ministry landscaping section and with MEPA, and even these, I am informed, have since been re-planted. We are sure that Luqa people will appreciate the enhanced beauty of the front garden of the school when all the works are completed.
Finally, all “lavur” was re-erected on the school’s facade, as Mr Sammut pointed out, including the words “Boys”, “Girls” and “Elementary School”. As far as we know there was no 1951 on the façade, however in the light of Mr Sammut’s comments, we intend verifying this point with others who were involved at the initial stage of this project. Besides larger classrooms the school now has a gym, dressing rooms, drama classrooms, art rooms, resources rooms and quiet rooms, a multi-purpose hall, and above all also a substation for the school to have sufficient electrical power. Whilst hoping we have satisfied the need of ‘locals’ to know, the Ministry of Education is very much satisfied that government will soon be completing a major one million Malta liri project in Luqa which will be of service to the people for many years to come.
Claude Sciberras,
Communications Coordinator
Ministry of Education, Youth and Employment
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