Government Clarifies Temporary Arrangements At St Joseph’s Schools
The Government has clarified that temporary portacabins at St Joseph’s Schools will be used for music and science rooms while refurbishment works continue, following concerns raised over the arrangements.
A statement from the Government follows below:
The Government has called out the Leader of the Opposition for a misleading and poorly researched post on social media in relation to the works at St Joseph’s schools. He implies that children will be taught in portacabins for some reason relating to non completion of works.
This is simply wrong.
The portacabins are NOT for classrooms but music and science rooms, not because works have not been completed on time but in the interests of the safety of the children, and with the full support and working closely with the schools. These rooms will avoid children having to cross the construction site in order to access the specialist rooms and will allow these rooms to be refurbished to the highest standards at the same time. The schools are happy with the temporary arrangements, understanding that the inconvenience will be well worth it given the vast improvements the schools will see on completion.
In his post, Keith Azopardi states, “Why aren’t the works ready for the coming admin year…. In Feb we were told the works would complete by August”. And he goes on to paste an extract from the Minister for Education’s statement in Hansard (attached).
He is trying to imply that the Minister misled in his statement when it is clear that he is the one misleading.
Mr Azopardi clearly does not listen and does not read. The Minister clearly stated they will be ready by August 2027, not 2026! And they will be!
In addition, Government reassures the residents of the area that the sensationalist claims that 60 parking spaces will be lost are not correct. The temporary loss will be much less and measures are being taken to create more spaces to minimise impact.
St Joseph’s schools need and deserve the new facilities and should not be any less well provided than all the others that the GSLP/Liberal Government has built.
