The Governemt has issued a reply to the GSD's recent statement regarding St Martin’s School.

A statement from the Government follows below:

The GSD are showing their incompetence and irresponsibility in Opposition and in their worrying and deliberate “fake news” and hypocritical approach to their statements. 

Just for starters, the GSD have to be reminded that they have publicly stated that if in Government they would NOT have replaced the old St Martin’s School at Glacis.

They are very well aware that the new St Martin’s, which is magnificent, was indeed built for the future, based on the expected intakes as calculated for the previous decade.

It was only AFTER the school was built that the intake increased from 6/7 a year to about 20. This has repeatedly been stated in public, including in Parliament. 

The use of the site in question for a temporary solution has been discussed in detail and agreed by the relevant professionals, and is being designed in such a way that will perfectly suit the children’s needs. It could not be any other way. Moreover, the synergy of being adjacent to the PossAbilities site adds benefit. 

Already, plans, which will shortly be revealed, are in place for a long term solution at the St Martin’s site which will be ready in September 2026, and there will be further announcements on increasing provision even more in the future. 

Minister for Education, the Hon Prof John Cortes, said: “The cheek of the GSD to criticise the Government’s Educational strategy, with the massive provision and investment it has made for our children since it came into office, is astounding considering that they are the party with the worst record on Education in Gibraltar’s history. And the Government’s work continues, with more still to come over the next few years. None of the GSD’s ranting and raving will stop us.”