St Bernardette School of San Gwann was presented with the prestigious prize of a Green Flag, an international title given to those schools which excel in their work for the environment under the programme Eko-Skola, run locally by Nature Trust and aimed specifically for primary schools.

The government’s aim is for 80 schools to participate in the Eko-skola programme. Right now there are 65 schools participating in the initiative for the creation of awareness and protection of the environment,” said the Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment, George Pullicino.

During the presentation a silver prize was awarded to the Dun Alwig Camilleri Primary A Zejtun school and the Primary School of Safi. The bronze was given to St Joan Antide School within St Benedict College.

The minister spoke about the students’ initiative of presenting a memorandum to the political parties with their recommendations, including that printed materials should no longer be mailed to Maltese households as part of the electoral campaign. He explained that this was not possible since not all the population had access to online information.

However the minister informed the students that their advice was taken into consideration and an independent auditors board has been set up so that the amount of of papers used during the electoral campaign would be compensated with the planting of trees.