Labour ‘misleading public’ on schools – Ministry of Education

Whilst confirming that a number of schools will start to be phased out, the Ministry said no school will close suddenly, but there will be a gradual phasing out of the new and phasing in with new buildings or with refurbished schools

“Bartolo is misleading the public when he states that no one was being told where the new schools to replace them would be,” the statement reads.

“Hon. Bartolo is more than aware that individual sessions have been held with each College Council of Heads so as to inform them of the changes that will start to be implemented in their College,” the Ministry of Education said.

According to the Ministry, heads of schools are now in contact with their staff of the changes what will occur as from next scholastic year.

“Meetings with parents will be held in the coming weeks and students will also be infomed and prepared for the changes by the school’s career guidance team.”

Reiterating the importance government gives to the education sector and the importance of suitable school facilities, the Ministry of Education said “government’s track record shows its competence in building new schools and also in renovating schools.”

The Ministry also said that the Education Directorates have in hand statistics about the future school population.

“It is worth noting that for many years we have had schools with over 1,000 student population. This will no longer be the case in the future,” the Ministry said. “The student population cannot be too large so as to keep student personal contact, while on the other hand schools cannot be too small.”

“One hopes that Hon. Bartolo is not suggesting that we remain in old buildings rather than offer new or refurbished buildings to our students,” the statement concluded.