As part of Project Green's Green Schools Initiative, 35 primary and secondary schools across the country shall be getting green spaces within their premises as part of a project worth €10 million.

During a press conference on Friday morning, attended by the Minister for the Environment, Miriam Dalli, the Minister for Education, Clifton Grima, and the CEO of Project Green, Joseph Cuschieri, it was announced that 35 schools have signed up to have their own green area constructed.

In the making of this project, Project Green announced a public call for schools from Malta and Gozo to submit their designs for their own green area. These designs incorporated the ideas and proposals of respective school students.

Through this, schools proposed a variety of projects, such as kitchen gardens, quiet zones, pollinator and biodiversity gardens, and fully accessible areas for persons with disabilities.

Education Minister Clifton Grima thanked the school representatives and students present for the press conference for their work to assist students and their communities. He remarked that 38 submissions were received from 35 schools, and that the seeds of this initiative came from the educational communities themselves.

Environment Minister Miriam Dalli said that this project originated from students asking for schools to bring nature closer to them. She added that this Green Schools Initiative, which falls under her Ministry through Project Green, will also promote outdoor learning.

Minister Dalli said that this idea - which emerged from meetings with school children - was immediately liked by the people within Project Green when relayed to them. Hence, she noted that the government shall be investing €10 million into these green spaces "because we want your schools to be nicer."

She commented that several ideas have come out from consulting with students, such as the pilot project to prohibit smoking from select bays at the beginning of next year.

She concluded by calling upon Project Green's representatives to get these school green spaces completed as soon as possible, as "the children are waiting."

During this event held at St. Benedict's College in Kirkop, participating schools were awarded with certificates of participation and with awards for the most socially conscious design, the most innovative proposal, strongest student involvement, the most climate-resilient proposal, the most creative concept, and for the best overall proposal.