San Gwann Kindergarten to be open by September

The San Gwann Kindergarren will be open by next September according to the current plans, Minister for Education Evarist Bartolo said earlier today.

Addressing a press conference on the current developments in schools being undertaken by the government, Bartolo said that the projects taking place at schools around the island added up to an €18 million investment.

The architect for the Foundation of Tomorrow’s Schools (FTS) Luke Micallef explained that the new kindergarten would have 19 classrooms on two separate levels.

“The set-up of the classrooms will not be traditional, as the classes are meant to encourage interaction and activities between students,” Micallef said explaining that the school was also focusing on its outside play area.

“The outside play area will be equipped with the appropriate items and soft play areas,” he added.

Bartolo explained that the project had started last August and that the much needed Kindergarten would provide three to four year olds with a specific area, rather than the having to share the premises with the primary school.

“The San Gwann campus will now be the only campus on the island to combine child care, Kindergarten and Primary schools,” he said adding that the school was also one of the most renowned and sought on the island.

Bartolo added that the new school would also be more convenient for parents and that it would also provide a better transition to young pupils.

The minister then went on to list some of the projects the foundation had covered during the past year.

“The National Sport School in Pembroke  and the Middle School in Rabat, which cost €3.4 million and €3 million respectively, are among some of these projects,” he said, adding that Middle schools had been created to bring teachers closer to their students.

Among the other projects he listed are the €1,650,000 Gozo Sixth Form Campus, as well as the Middle School in Naxxar, costing some €1.5 million.

Bartolo even added that two middle schools in Bormla and Birkirkara were almost finished and amounted to €2,300,000 and €1,300,000 respectively.

“One of the most important projects we have carried out is the renovation of the Youth.Ink project being overseen by Project Zaghzagh, in Santa Venera,” Bartolo said, explaining that the aim was to create a youth village for troubled 16 to 18 year olds.

“The area looked almost like a prison yard, before and we felt that work needed to be done for it to become a safe, welcoming space for youths from troubled backgrounds,” he added.