David Casa MEP, on a visit to St Benedict College in Kirkop, said: “Such an educational facility is setting examples to the future challenges that society is facing.”

St Benedict College is a modern educational school not only structurally, with the latest environment-friendly technologies, but also conceptually. It not only provides academic integration but also integration in the social sense.

College headmaster Joseph Micallef emphasised the importance of social development. “We try to adopt our syllabus to our students’ needs,” he said.

Mr Casa was impressed with the amount of extracurricular activities. Programmes such as EcoSkola, chess academy, Scoops and voluntary groups are providing the students with an immeasurable amount of knowledge. Another important aspect is the participation in EU programmes such as

etwinning and Comenius. Mr Casa emphasised that these projects should be encouraged not only at St Benedict College but also in other schools all over the island.

“The authorities must encourage participation in such learning activities and facilitate the participation of both students and their teachers for the benefit of our society,” Mr Casa

concluded.

The St Benedict College project consisted of a capital investment of Lm2.5 million. Other similar projects are being developed around the island, such as the restructuring of Verdala Junior Lyceum in Cospicua, Qormi Junior Lyceum and the new girls’ school in Mosta.