Visiting the work being carried at Paola college, Education Minister Louis Galea said that MCAST had a total of nine institutes, and a centre in Gozo, and every institute offered the best possible service to students.

During his visit, Dr Galea visited a block that is being built to host the library and learning resources centre. This block, which is composed of four storeys, will have 110 computers with Internet access and place for 200 students to carry out necessary research. The block will also include an area where study groups can meet and an exhibition space.

Dr Galea also said that the electricity supply to the college had been improved through the installation of a new sub-

system, while work on the installation of another sub-station was currently underway. Construction work on new administrative offices will be completed by April.

He said government had invested Lm4 million in order for the college to reach the standards that it has reached today and government will continue working for the college to be given the status of the second most important pillar in the country’s educational system, after the university, which comes first.

Dr Galea said a total of 2,556 students had applied to start a full-time course at the college from the 83 courses that were offered. This was 300 more than the total received last year.