The children who attend Hookham Frere School in Guardamangia are without a play area to use during the break. To many of the parents of the children attending this very well-run school, this is typical of an administration that often shows itself insensitive to the needs of our children.

This school is not situated in an ideal spot, with the hospital incinerator emitting dangerous fumes.

However, the hard work of the headmaster, Mr Gatt, and his staff, with the support of the parents, has turned it into a very good school which belies the conception that government schools are run less efficiently than private schools.

Almost two years ago, the headmaster and the school council made a request to the Education Ministry to turn a small piece of land adjacent to the school into a play area where the kindergarten children could play and enjoy themselves during the break. The cost of the project is less than Lml5,000. It is believed that Pieta local council supported this idea and has pressed the ministry to get on with the work.

Repeated pleas by the school council have been ignored. Contacts from the headmaster with the Foundation of Tomorrow’s Schools fell on deaf ears. Last year the Labour shadow minister, Carmelo Abela attended the prize day activities.

In his speech, the headmaster did not mince words. He expressed his disappointment that the Education Ministry is being so stingy over providing such a small amount of money to make the kindergarten children happy and satisfied. It is not pleasant for these children to be left shut inside their classrooms because they have nowhere to play.

With the hospital incinerator bellowing cancerous fumes all day near this school, an open play area surrounded by trees for these children would do them a lot of good.

Mr Abela was besieged by the parents, who pleaded with him to raise the matter in Parliament and he did ask a parliamentary question months ago.

In his reply, the Education Minister told Mr Abela that the tender for the work on the play area was issued in May. More than eight months have elapsed since the minister made that promise. Nothing has happened and our children are still without this play area.

Considering that the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools has a budget running into millions, it is scandalous that they continue to drag their feet over giving our children the much needed space to move their bodies during the break.

Louiselle Ebejer

HAMRUN