Over €6.3 million was spent to modernize the two-storey Nadur Primary School, the government said.

The building, originally constructed in the early 20th century, was given a completely new look for its 200 students and 30 educators, and was inaugurated by three Ministers: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Funds, Chris Fearne, Education Minister Clifton Grima, and Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri.

Apart from the complete beautification of the school from the inside and outside, this project also included the redesigning of its open and recreational spaces. New spaces were also created for teaching extracurricular subjects, including a dance studio, a music room, a literacy room, a theatre studio, and art classes. This project was financed under the NextGenerationEU programme through Malta’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The school has now almost become carbon neutral as its use of renewable energy has increased and its demand for energy has reduced by 30%. The project also ensured that the school adhered to accessibility requirements, more shaded areas were added in its outdoor recreational area, and new light, water, drainage, CCTV, internet connection, alarms, and fire safety services were also installed.

Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne said that one of the main priorities of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, i.e., the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU, is for large buildings in Malta, including public ones, to be given the necessary works to become energy efficient.

“The works at the Nadur school in Gozo, which were financed by this facility, led to this goal being reached and as a result, this school, apart from now offering a nicer and more modern environment for its students and teachers, is also much more efficient in its use of energy”, Deputy Prime Minister Fearne said.

Minister Grima said that this “unprecedented investment” was made through the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools (FTS). Reiterating the modernized environment at the school, Grima also referenced other “massive” investments being made in the Gozitan educational sector. He described that at the forefront of these large investments, €18 million has been put aside for the “one of a kind” Rabat Educational Complex. He also added that transformations are underway through the big works being conducted in the educational sector and through the National Education Strategy (2024-2030).

Acknowledging the “extensive renovation” carried out over the last year in this Nadur site, Minister Camilleri contently described how these works were able to be done without forcing students out of school. He said that this was accomplished by dividing the project into different phases. He then concluded that his Ministry shall continue to fully invest in the educational infrastructure found in Gozo.

Also present for this inauguration were the FTS Chief Executive, Dr. Neville Young, the Principal of the Gozo College, Sean Zammit, and the Head of the Nadur Primary School, Mary Jane Camilleri.