Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1081437
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 13 FEBRUARY 2019 7 NEWS YANNICK PACE EDUCATION Minister Evarist Bartolo yesterday pledged to do everything necessary to address security concerns at schools. A spate of violent incidents in recent weeks have brought about fresh calls by the Malta Union of Teachers for the government to better address the issue. "We will do whatever needs to be done," Bartolo said at the end of a press conference that launched an initiative to promote the learning of foreign languages in Malta. A few months back, following another incident and amid simi- lar calls for heightened security at schools, Bartolo had insisted that he did not want schools to be turned into prisons. Asked whether he still felt this way the minister said he believed in "facing any problem". "It would be wrong to take a small problem and blow it out of proportion, and it is also wrong to take a big problem and play it down. You deal with every situa- tion and every school on its own merit and where necessary we will do whatever is needed," Bar- tolo said. Mobile classrooms The minister was also asked about the recent controversy surrounding prefabricated classrooms being used at some schools around Malta and which the Opposition leader has re- ferred to as "containers". Bartolo said referring to the classrooms as containers was a lie, insisting the classes were more comfortable than tradi- tional ones. Asked whether, despite the classrooms' comfort, criticism over the fact that not enough schools have been built to meet the demand of a rapidly growing population was justified, Bartolo said schools weren't built over- night. "Schools take time to build. The one in Marsaskala is ready and we must focus more on the new Qawra school," he insisted. Bartolo pointed to a number of schools that were built includ- ing schools in Dingli and Kirkop, adding that refurbishment works on a number of other schools had also been carried out. BENEFIĊĊJU MSAĦĦAĦ TAL-KERA 22991000 HOUSING AUTHORITY OFFICES, 22, PIETRO FLORIANI STREET, FLORIANA Persuna Waħedha Żewġ Adulti mingħajr tfal Ġenitur wieħed b'wild wieħed Koppja b'wild wieħed Koppja b'żewġ ulied jew akter € 14,700 € 19,000 € 19,050 € 23,800 € 28,600 € 1,600 € 1,900 € 2,000 € 2,000 € 2,000 € 3,600 € 3,600 € 4,800 € 4,800 € 5,000 € 2,000 € 1,700 € 2,800 € 2,800 € 3,000 DĦUL MASSIMU TA' SUSSIDJU LI SETGHET TIEĦU MASSIMU MILL- BENEFIĊĊJU ĠDID DIFFERENZA + Minister vows to do 'everything necessary' to ensure security at schools A record 2,731 persons were rescued at sea by the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) in 2018, data tabled in Parlia- ment yesterday by Home Affairs Minis- ter Michael Farrugia has shown. The persons were rescued in a total of 88 rescue operations conducted by the AFM. Farrugia was replying to a question posed by Labour whip Byron Camilleri. The closest figure to the record- breaking statistic in 2018 comes in 2013, with 1,854 persons rescued at sea during 76 operations throughout the year. The data also reveals that, so far, only one person has been rescued by the AFM in 2019. 2,731 people saved at sea in 2018 The AFM carried out 88 rescue missions at sea in 2018