Alex Borg visits two schools in Kerċem, Gozo

Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg said investment in education was an investment in “a better world, a better country and better citizens” during visits to two schools in Kerċem on Friday.

Borg visited BELS Gozo, an English-language school, and Santa Tereża School as part of a day of engagements in Gozo. At BELS Gozo, Borg was briefed on the institution’s 29-year history and its operations in Malta. The school offers year-round English courses for adults and welcomes around 600 students from different countries each year.

BELS chief executive Rebecca Bonnici said the institution had continued to invest in innovation, including the early use of virtual reality in lessons. She said the school wanted to continue attracting visitors looking for both an educational and tourism experience, while stressing the need for Malta to focus on quality rather than quantity in tourism.

Bonnici also highlighted the importance of providing visitors with the option of travelling directly to Gozo by air from Malta International Airport. “Private investment in tourism needs the Government’s support,” Borg said. He said Malta needed to attract visitors seeking a quality experience and argued that this required the necessary infrastructure.

Borg later visited Santa Tereża School, which is run by the Carmelite Sisters of St Teresa. The school has around 192 pupils and employs 28 Gozitan educators, including seven teachers, four kindergarten educators, 16 learning support educators and a complementary teacher. Borg met the school’s leadership and educators, who raised concerns about the challenges facing schools, including finding cover when educators are absent.

School management said having even one Government-provided educator available to cover teacher absences would provide significant assistance. The educators also highlighted the importance of involving teachers in discussions on changes to education policy and the introduction of new measures. Borg said education remained among the PN’s main priorities. 

“Education is one of a country’s main pillars,” he said. Borg said that schools should help students develop in all areas and acquire basic skills, including critical thinking.

Borg was accompanied by PN deputy leader and shadow tourism minister Alex Perici Calascione, shadow Gozo minister Frank Anthony Tabone, shadow minister for voluntary organisations Beppe Galea and spokesperson for family and children’s policy Norma Camilleri.