Following the recent events relating to the construction of St Augustine Primary School, I feel that as Rector of this college, it is my duty to clarify certain matters and to put in writing how I really feel about certain decisions taken lately.

On 2 February, our application for the construction of a new school adjacent to the present college in Pieta’ was turned down by Mepa and, as a consequence, our college is facing considerable difficulties as it has been refused the possibility of being on a par with other schools in implementing the reforms set by the National Education Reform by the scholastic year 2013/2014. This means that hundreds of children will be denied the chance of being educated in a church school setting with a smooth transition from primary to secondary school. Consequently, hundreds of parents will be denied the right of having their children in the school of their choice in accordance with their wishes and beliefs.

I firmly believe that the National Education Reform will give a wider opportunity to children coming from various localities in Malta and Gozo. It is a well-known fact that up to the scholastic year 2010/2011, children were admitted to church schools after sitting for the Common Entrance Examination. State schools used a similar system. Experts in the field of education have already pointed out the negative effects of such a system. The present Educational Reform will allow children with more varied learning abilities to seek admission to church schools. The basic aim of this reform is to ensure that children of such a tender age will find it easier to progress from the primary stage to the secondary stage. Furthermore, there is the question of social equality. As from the scholastic year 2011/2012, admission to church schools was done by ballot in order to give an equal opportunity to all students regardless of their academic abilities. I do not wish to call into question or expound upon the validity of the former system applied by church schools. However, I feel that the new system that has been put in place by the Church authorities is truly and veritably built on social, ethical, religious and democratic principles, which unquestionably are more just and upon which our society is established.

The decision taken by Mepa on 2nd February undermines the principles stated above. It is a fact that the people living in the neighbourhood have a right to put forward their objections vis-à-vis the building of the new school. However, one has to disassociate oneself from all personal interests and consider the matter as objectively as possible. It is true that the proposed site lies within an Urban Conservation Area but the area itself upon which the school was intended to stand, which currently consists of a tennis court and a small garden, is listed as a White Area which means it is an area subject to the interpretation of the authorities. In fact, the house adjoining the garden (Aida House), which has been marked as scheduled property (Grade 2), will be preserved and restored together with part of the garden. This is one reason why the Augustinian authorities insist on building the primary school on the site in question. Another reason is the proximity of the site to the already constructed school. Such a physical advantage is beneficial to both teachers and LSAs as they would be able to carry out their duties more smoothly whenever the need to move from one building to the other arises. Both schools can also share their resources. In my opinion, one other fact has to be considered. Should the said primary school not be constructed on the site mentioned above, this means that another zone has to be chosen, probably virgin land. Is such an option advisable given the physical aspect of our island where, in recent years, so much virgin land has been destroyed by investors diminishing the size of our countryside? The proposed piece of land is surrounded by buildings that are three or four storeys high and upon construction the school will not be visible from any point in its immediate vicinity. It is true that a number of neighbouring houses are scheduled but it is also a fact that the gardens overlooking the site earmarked for constructing the new primary school are not scheduled with the exception of one, which is a few metres long and whose rubble wall has been in a pitiful state, or better still collapsing, for these past six to seven years.

I have deemed it necessary to reflect upon these points, especially at such a difficult time like this for me and for so many parents. I am extremely worried by the fact that such entities as KMPD, the Education Department, the Forward Planning Unit and the Health Department all approved the project, a project that was refused by solely one entity: The Heritage Planning Unit. I am also dissatisfied with the argument that such a school will have a negative impact on the flow of traffic in the area. Originally, this was the primary reason brought forward by the neighbours but I must say that this problem was duly addressed as we have provided parking spaces for about 70 cars under the new school as well as beneath the existing playing ground so that our teachers would have enough space to park their cars and our neighbours would not be made to suffer any hardships. We had also prepared a plan to ensure that any congestion caused by incoming and outgoing cars would be brought down to a minimum. I can assure everyone that at the end of each day’s schooling, I always position myself together with my Assistant Heads in the main ground of the college directing cars and mini buses and I can assure everyone that the ground is empty of all vehicles within 15 minutes of the last bell ringing for the children to go home. All this was studied and approved by the Transport Authority, which did not find any objection to the manner in which the whole process was to be executed.

I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to the respective authorities to help us find a positive solution to launch this project that will be beneficial to a great number of students. We cannot but consider our next move: that of an Appeal to Mepa. Unfortunately, this will be a long process and at the moment time is of the essence if we wish to conform to the National Educational Reform. I would also like to take this opportunity as Head of St Augustine College and on behalf of the parents of the children entrusted to our care to disassociate myself from any accusations made by sections of the media whereby a member of Mepa was mentioned by name and alleged to have influenced the final decision due to conflict of interests. Let it be known that my only interest, which is shared by my Augustinian brothers as well as by the administration of our college, is to bring the whole matter to a closure in the best interests of our youngest students and their parents. Such interests are, and have always been, the only aim behind each and every decision regarding the realisation of the project in hand: the building of the new primary school. I believe in the education of our children, the national interest as well as the common good and these three principles must guide each one of us towards a solution to this problem.

Rev. Dr Alan Scerri

Ph.D. (Lincoln UK), M.Ed.Sc, Sth.B.

College Rector