The primary and secondary schools which will make up Malta and Gozo’s 10 regional colleges were yesterday announced by Education Minister Louis Galea during a meeting for heads of schools. The minister also made it clear that the government’s zero tolerance policy to bad behaviour in schools will be followed strictly.

The meeting, held at the Robert Sammut Hall in Floriana yesterday, was held in anticipation of the first day of the scholastic year, which is on Monday.

Dr Galea said that this year, four colleges would be operating alongside the three which were in operation last year in addition to the network of special schools.

Next year, the remaining three colleges will be formed to make up the total number of 10. Dr Galea said that all people, including students, needed to realise that the whole world was going through a revolution. “First we had the agricultural revolution thousands of years ago. Then we had the industrial revolution a couple of hundred years ago and now we have the digital revolution,” said Dr Galea.

He said that one of the government’s priorities was education. “We want everyone to have a good quality education. But for this to happen, we need the three ingredients to come together – students, parents and teachers. We need all three to dedicate themselves to one of the greatest gifts and experiences we go through in life – developing intelligence,” he said.

He also said that on 4 September, the new provisions of the Education Laws had been put through parliament in order to allow the administration of the newly set up colleges.

Dr Galea also said that two new directorates were being set up to take over the functions previously carried out by the Education Division. “The first of these will be the Standards and Quality Directorate and the other will be the Educational Services Directorate,” said Dr Galea.

He also made particular reference to the need for good behaviour and discipline within schools by students, parents and teachers alike. He said that he had called for those involved to give their suggestions on good behaviour and discipline in schools, but the vast amount of responses said that the present policy was an effective one.

He said that the issue was simple: “The primary responsibility lies with the parents, while the school is next in line. We have adopted a zero tolerance policy on unacceptable behaviour.” He said that it was every school head’s responsibility to ensure that each and every case of unacceptable behaviour to be dealt with firmly and justly.

Dr Galea said that that absenteeism should also be tackled firmly. “Another aspect that we need to ensure is that healthy food standards are stuck to, especially in tuck shops.”

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College 1: Gozo College

Primary: Ghajnsielem; Gharb; Kercem; Nadur; Qala; San Lawrenz; Sannat (and Sannat Special School); Victoria; Xaghra; Xewkija; Zebbug.

Secondary: Ninu Cremona, Victoria; Gian Frangisk Aguis de Soldanis.

College 2: Cottonera College

Primary: Cospicua; Kalkara; Senglea; Vittoriosa; Xghajra; Zabbar.

Secondary: Lorenzo Gafà, Fortini; Giuseppe Despott, Cottonera; Erin Serracino Inglott, Cospicua; Fra Diego Bonanno, Marsa.

College 3: St Benedict’s College

Primary: Birzebbuga; Ghaxaq; Gudja; Kirkop; Mqabba; Qrendi; Safi; Zurrieq.

Secondary: St Benedict; Margaret Mortimer, Sant Lucija; Maria Goretti, Tarxien.

Special School Network

Dun Manwel Attard, Wardija; Guardian Angel; Helen Keller; San Miguel.

New colleges starting this scholastic year

College 4

Primary: Floriana; Hamrun SS; Hamrun GP; Marsa; Paola; Pietà; Valletta.

Secondary: Dun Guzepp Zammit Brighella, Hamrun; Francis X Attard, Marsa; Lorenzo Manchè, Floriana; Maria Assumpta, Hamrun.

College 5

Primary: Luqa; Qormi San Gorg; Qormi San Bastjan; Siggiewi; Zebbug.

Secondary: Dun Karm Psaila, Zebbug; Guzè Galea, Qormi; Mikiel Anton Vassalli tal Handaq; Maria Regina Blata l-Bajda.

College 6

Primary: Gzira; Pembroke; San Gwann; St Julian’s; Sliema.

Secondary: Antonio Bosio, Gzira; Sir Adrian Dingli, St Patrick; Sir Luigi Preziosi St Andrew’s.

College 7

Primary: Gharghur; Mellieha; Mosta; Naxxar; St Paul’s Bay.

Secondary: Naxxar Boys Secondary; Lily of the Valley.

New Colleges

starting in

near future

College 8

Primary: Attard; Bahrija; Dingli; Mgarr; Mtarfa; Rabat.

Secondary: Sir Temi Zammit Mtarfa; Can. Paul Pullicino, Rabat.

College 9

Primary: Lija-Balzan; Birkirkara; Msida; St Venera

Secondary: Vincenzo Borg Brared, Birkirkara; Vincenzo Bugeja, Santa Venera; St Francis of Assisi, Santa Venera; St Theresa, Mriehel.

College 10

Primary: Fgura; Marsascala; Marsaxlokk; Tarxien; Zejtun.

Secondary: Guzè D’ Amato, Paola; St Joseph, Corradino; Carlo Diacono, Zejtun.