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His name is synonymous with the education sector, particularly in the southern part of Malta. He started his career, spanning over forty years, before the Second World War as a young sixteen-year-old teacher and ended up as a Schools Inspector after many years in charge of the primary school at Paola.
The sad news was passed on to me by his son, Joe, today Head of School at Guzè D’Amato Secondary, the same school where Mr Angelo Cilia served as the first head teacher when it was launched as a primary school for boys 48 years ago. He started running this school when it was still without windows and floor tiles and in which over a thousand children were gathered from three schools to be found in the town. He was loved by both teachers and students since he maintained discipline and showed a close interest in students’ academic needs.
I can vouch for all this myself, both as a student at his school and as a teacher when he visited my class as a Schools Inspector. His words of encouragement on that occasion still echo in my ears. Even if in those days we teachers used to feel uneasy about an inspector’s visit. I should not forget to remark that Angelo Cilia was a head teacher during difficult times, but he courageously and scrupulously performed his duties all through the days of the Second World War. He served also as inspector in charge of Protection Officers.
Mr Cilia was a cultured, well read man. Even in his last years, he would never give up a newspaper or a book – this was the case when I interviewed him at home in connection with an article for the school magazine eight years ago and when I visited him at the Cospicua home for the elderly less than a month ago.
On my own behalf and on behalf of the thousands of students from the surroundings together with the many teachers who worked with him and like me were influenced by his knowledge and wise guidance, I extend my condolences to his three children and their families, relatives and friends.
Alfred Ellul Galea
Fgura
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