The Nationalist Party on Tuesday noted that the Minister for Education continues to avoid answering Opposition Parliamentary Questions regarding the renovation of Birkirkara Primary School.

The Opposition said it expected the Minister for Education to provide full details about this project, including a clear explanation of when the works will commence, how long they are expected to take, and whether the Government has applied for the necessary permits from the local authorities. The Government must also give a full account of the tendering process and the current stage it has reached.

While the PN supports all forms of infrastructure investment in local schools, including the renovation of Birkirkara Primary, it stresses that in any instance where a school undergoes major refurbishment, the government has an obligation to provide comprehensive information so that the project proceeds without delay, including details about the financial allocation.

This is especially important given the government's poor track record in meeting set deadlines and adhering to allocated budgets for school infrastructure projects.

The PN therefore understands the concerns of teachers, educators, and parents who will be directly affected until the project is completed.

The party also expecte assurances from the Ministry for Education that all logistical aspects are being taken into account, including those related to commuting distances, before- and after-school services, summer programmes, and issues related to the mobility of College teachers who must provide services to the same school but across separate buildings.

We also expect the Government to provide reassurance to teachers and parents that the temporary school environment, in which operations will take place during the renovation works, is adequately equipped to deliver a holistic education that considers individual wellbeing as well as the expected curricular learning needs, even if only for a supposedly short transition period.

Every investment in our schools to modernise them is in line with the vision of past Nationalist Governments, which modernised and built a significant number of new schools to meet today's needs, and reflects the PN's vision as an alternative government in the field of education, the PN said.