Parents demand to see architect report for school hall following ceiling fall
A section of ceiling fell down during a lesson last week
Parents of Malta Visual and Performing Arts School (MVPA) students have called on the education minister to release a report certifying the school hall as safe after a section of the ceiling fell during a lesson last week.
In an open letter to Education Minister Clifton Grima, a group of 169 parents expressed their “grave concern” about the incident and requested a copy of the report cited by the minister last week showing the hall to be safe.
On Wednesday, fragments of masonry fell from the ceiling above students during a dance lesson. The education ministry said at the time that the issue had been “addressed immediately” and that “qualified professionals” had certified the room as safe.
Parents said that while they were relieved that no serious injuries had been reported, “video evidence and eyewitness accounts of fragments falling from a significant height are deeply alarming”.
“This incident has understandably caused significant distress among students, educators, and families”, parents said, while requesting the ministry provide a copy of the report, which they said should be prepared and endorsed by an architect.
The report should confirm that the fabric used in the hall is fit for purpose and free from risk of further collapse, they said.
“Our children attend MVPA to nurture their talents in a specialised environment. For a school that prides itself on excellence in the arts, the lack of a safe, functional space for practice and performance is unacceptable and long overdue.
“We believe that our children and their teachers have the right to work and learn in an environment that is beyond reproach. Until such time as these certifications are made public, we remain apprehensive about the resumption of classes in these premises.”
A copy of the email was sent to Opposition MPs Justin Schembri and Julie Zahra – shadow education and culture ministers, respectively – and Standing Committee for Education chair Rosianne Cutajar.
Last week’s ceiling collapse is not the only reason the school has made the headlines; last month, a young pupil challenged the prime minister over why the school has no working theatre.
Quizzed on the issue last week, the education minister acknowledged the concerns, but told Times of Malta he was reluctant to commit to a timeline for the project, while saying he did not believe the matter should fall under his ministry.