Call for proposals for running of international school at old military hospital in Mtarfa
A call for expression of interest has been launched for the rehabilitation, operation and management of an international school at the site of the old military hospital in Mtarfa, officials from the Education Ministry announced yesterday.
Local bidders will have to compete with European counterparts, as the concession is open to any possible interested parties within the EU. Submissions will have to be made on the electronic public procurement portal (ePPS), in line with EU obligations, where a set of criteria and the breakdown of how marks will be awarded can be found. A proportion of 80 per cent of the ‘mark’ will be awarded for the curriculum while 20 per cent would be awarded for financial planning.
Only bidders with an established track-record in the international-school industry will be considered. Asked whether the operators behind the American University of Malta have expressed interest, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo mused that he is not sure that they even qualify due to the track-record requirement.
The call for interest is open for three months, and on 4 May, all those who registered their interest will attend a clarification meeting which is to take place on site.
Bartolo described how one of the most pertinent questions asked by possible foreign investors who are deciding whether to uproot their family, are the educational facilities available on the island.
He said currently, there are three options: state schools – which have a growing number of foreign students, independent schools – which have arrived at a saturation point due to long waitlists, and Verdala international school.
Bartolo highlighted how such foreign students whose education is to be interrupted through relocation would benefit from having the option of an international school with an international curriculum. Local students who are sure about plans to study abroad would also benefit.
Under the specifications of the concession, which is to last 40 years, the school is to take both males and females and must offer the entire package of compulsory education – up until 16 years of age.
Frank Fabri, permanent secretary at the education ministry, said that an evaluation board would be set up to oversee submissions while a technical board will be set up to ensure that a bidder’s implementation plans are progressing in line with what was promised.
Minister Bartolo said that the emphasis for possible bidders should be on the school-experience.
Government would receive rent by the successful bidder at €50,000 per year for the first five years, which goes up to €120,000 per year for the next five years, and will then increase by eight per cent for every five years after.
An obligation has been imposed that five per cent of the student population would be there on the strength of scholarships, available to local students only.
Pressed on whether the minister can guarantee that no local or foreign party have expressed interest or met with the government over the project, as was reported in the Auto buses de Lion and AUM concessions, Bartolo said that he can guarantee nobody will be given privileged or preferential treatment.
He shied away from saying that government has never met with anybody over the matter, questioning what is defined by government and how a meeting is being defined. He said over the years local persons have expressed interest in running an international school.
Further pressed on whether any foreign entity has met with other members of government, such as Prime Minister Joseph Muscat or Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi, Bartolo said that to his knowledge no foreign bidders have shown interest and he reiterated that nobody will be given preferential treatment.