The St George Primary School in Qormi is undergoing a €15 million transformation that will see the decades-old school converted into a modern educational facility, with the first phase expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027, the Education Ministry said on Friday.
The ministry said in a statement that the project, being carried out by the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools (FTS), is being implemented in two phases to allow the school to remain operational throughout the works. The existing shell and façades are being retained, while the interior, infrastructure and facilities are being extensively redeveloped.
The completed school will feature more than 30 classrooms, including kindergarten spaces, as well as dedicated rooms for art and music, multisensory learning, psychosocial support and personal and social development.
All classrooms will be equipped with air conditioning, while the project will also include the redevelopment of the school hall, courtyards and childcare centre.
Education and Sport Minister Byron Camilleri visited the site to follow the progress of the works, which include major structural interventions such as replacing old roofs, constructing extensions and adding an additional floor in parts of the school.
Camilleri said the project forms part of continued investment in Malta’s educational infrastructure, with the aim of providing students and educators with modern, accessible and better-equipped learning environments.
“We want the environment where our children learn to reflect the quality of education we want to offer them,” Camilleri said, adding that the investment would help provide schools equipped for current educational needs, including technology, accessibility and improved amenities.
The project is also intended to preserve the architectural character of the existing building while significantly upgrading its facilities and infrastructure.
Doreen Camilleri, Chief Financial Officer of FTS, described the Qormi project as an ambitious intervention, explaining that the school has been divided into two sections so that construction can take place in one half while the other remains in use.
She said the school, located in the centre of Qormi, required a major intervention to bring it in line with modern educational requirements.
In addition to the replacement and reconstruction of roofs, the works include new electricity, water and sewage systems, internet infrastructure, security cameras, alarms and fire protection systems. Energy-efficiency measures are also being introduced as part of the redevelopment.
Once completed, the school is expected to offer substantially more facilities for students and educators than it currently does.
The first phase of the project is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2027, while the entire transformation is expected to be completed during the 2027/2028 scholastic year.
Camilleri was accompanied during the visit by Education Ministry Permanent Secretary Matthew Vella, FTS Chairman Cory Greenland, FTS CEO Aleander Balzan and other officials. He also praised the workers carrying out the project for maintaining a steady pace of work during the summer months.