Modernisation work in Gozo schools are proceeding at a fast pace with work presently being carried out in a number of schools across the island.

Plastering and painting work, together with other minor structural works, were carried out in the Victoria, Xaghra and Nadur primary schools as well as in part of the Agius de Soldanis girls’ junior lyceum and secondary school.

The Victoria primary school has seen a major façade restoration project, with plastering and painting works being completed recently and the installation of new wooden apertures, having started this week. A similar intensive façade restoration project will be carried out at the San Lawrenz primary school followed by the Gozo School of Music in Sannat, in the coming weeks. The Xewkija primary school will also see an intensive modernisation project which is expected to start in the coming months.

Also in the coming months, the Agius de Soldanis girls’ school will see a major modernisation project with a substantial number of apertures being changed to modern aluminium ones. At present, the tender’s adjudication procedure is in process with works expected to start towards the end of next month.

Further aluminium needs in several Gozo schools will be catered for by the new aluminium unit being presently set up in an area within the Gharb primary school.

After structural and finishing works were carried out there, a training programme was held for the deployment of government employees, while equipment is presently being procured for the unit to function fully by end of October. This unit will serve to provide all aluminium requirements for the Ministry for Gozo, with priority being given to Gozo schools.

Electricity installation and re-installation are also being looked into with works already started at the education office in Gozo and the Sannat primary school with others soon to follow at the Sir Mikelang Refalo Centre for Further Studies. New computer laboratories will follow once electricity works are completed. These works follow last month’s procurement of personal computers for all heads of schools in Gozo.

The schools’ accessibility programme is also being continued this year with calls for offers having just been issued for the installation of a raisable platform for the Sir Mikelang Refalo Centre for Further Studies and a stair lift for the Kercem primary school. These features complement the construction of several ramps and the installation of lifts and/or stair lifts in other schools across the island for equal educational opportunities to be given to students with special needs in Gozo.

Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono said these intensive works in several Gozo schools were started off during the summer months but will continue, in several phases, during the coming months. The minister said that, over a number of years, the ministry is concentrating a substantial proportion of its budget and energy towards improving facilities in all of the island’s schools, including all eleven primary schools, two secondary schools, one post-secondary school, one special school and the Gozo School of Music, the Gozo School of Drama and the Wistin Camilleri Gozo Centre for Arts and Crafts. A complete change can be witnessed now, after seven years of intensive works in this area, where all schools have had varying degrees of works carried out in them.