The Malta Independent on Sunday
Parents scared to send their children to ‘structurally unsound’ school
Parents are scared to send their children to the Mtarfa primary school over concerns about the structural integrity of the old building, part of which is being propped up by concrete blocks.
The school, located on Fremantle Road, forms part of St Nicholas College.
A number of parents have reached out to
The Malta Independent on Sunday after their concerns, as well as those of the school’s staff, appear to have “fallen on deaf ears.”
The 1893 building, which originally served as an Officers’ Mess for the British military garrison at Mtarfa, has been suffering from structural issues due to subterranean movements, the Ministry for Education has confirmed, and emergency works have been carried out.
But parents feel that things have become so bad that the school should not be welcoming pupils and staff in its current condition, which has been further exposed by the recent storms.
This newspaper is informed that at least three classrooms could not be used during a recent downpour and that the bathrooms were flooded with rainwater seeping heavily from the ceilings.
One parent expressed concern that one of the wings of the school is being propped up by huge concrete blocks, which have been placed against the façade of the building.
This newspaper is informed that the classrooms on the first two floors of this particular area have been vacated, but the third is still in use.
This development has led to a shortage of classrooms, and pupils are using rooms that do not have interactive whiteboards and internet.
Parents said they had expressed their concerns with teaching staff, who conveyed the message higher up, but nothing has been done so far apart from the temporary emergency fix.
“We feel that it has become dangerous for the school to welcome students in its current state,” one parent said.
Asked what the school is doing regarding these structural problems, a spokesperson for the Education Ministry confirmed that the “the Mtarfa
Primary School has suffered from structural issues in view of movements of its sub-terrain.”
The ministry said the part of the school where the concrete blocks were placed “has been vacated and all measures have been taken to ensure the safety of all students and staff.”
“Furthermore, considering the building is a Grade 1 listed structure, the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools has submitted an application to the Planning Authority to place a temporary propping structure in order to eliminate danger to the premises, users and the general public. This has been processed by the PA and the mentioned propping structure (boulders) has been placed on site, eliminating danger.”
The ministry said that a structural engineer specialising in such works has been commissioned to carry out an analysis and form an action plan outlining the permanent consolidation of the school. Tests and monitoring of the school are currently being concluded.”
The current Dangerous Structure Order was issued by the PA earlier this year.
A search on the Planning Authority website shows that works to replace “dangerous roofs” were carried out in 1998.