Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541124
GozoToday is a weekly newspaper focused primarily on Gozo. It hopes to serve as a source of information on business, culture, entertainment and of course current affairs. Gozo has a special charm about it but it is also a bustling Island with an identity of its own. GozoToday is published every Friday and is available to numerous outlets in Gozo and on the ferries that carry so many visitors to Gozo from Malta and beyond. GozoToday MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan San Gwann SGN 9016 ASSISTANT EDITOR: LAURA CALLEJA Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt 3 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 7 NOVEMBER 2025 NEWS TEN months after the Lands Au- thority announced the transfer of the Qbajjar Battery in Żeb- buġ, Gozo, to Heritage Malta for emergency restoration, no visible work has been carried out on the 310-year-old coastal fortifica- tion, PN candidate Luke Said has claimed in a statement. The PN candidate said the an- nouncement, made in January, had been widely welcomed as a long-overdue step toward pro- tecting one of Gozo's most iconic Grade 1 scheduled landmarks. Said said that by May, the site remained untouched, and by Oc- tober it was still in a state of ne- glect and deterioration. "A recent visit revealed ongoing vandalism, littering, and public access to the unsecured structure, raising con- cerns about safety and the gov- ernment's commitment to cul- tural heritage. Reports of people camping, partying, and lighting barbecues inside and near the crumbling walls have added to the alarm," the statement said. Parliamentary questions (PQ) filed by PN MP Julie Zahra sought clarification from the Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government, Owen Bonni- ci, on the progress of the restora- tion. Furthermore, another ques- tion tabled on 14 October, asked whether any works had been un- dertaken to prevent further dam- age and whether surveys or safety measures had been implemented. "The minister's reply referred only to a previous PQ without providing details," Said said. Another PQ tabled on 23 Octo- ber A follow-up PQ on 23 October again asked whether any work had been carried out since the start of 2025. In response, Bon- nici said the site belongs to the Maltese and Gozitan people and that discussions are ongoing about its management. He stat- ed that while there is agreement on the need for restoration, the Lands Authority is still analysing the best course of action and will announce its plans "in due time." "No mention of funding for the project appeared in the 2026 Budget. The continued lack of progress follows earlier promises of urgent action made after the death of a young woman in the collapse of the Riħama Battery in Marsaskala," Said said. Calls have been renewed for the site to be entrusted to NGO Din l-Art Ħelwa, whose track record in preserving historical sites such as the Red Tower in Mellieħa and the Dwejra Tower has been wide- ly praised. Neglect continues at 310-year-old Qbajjar Battery despite promised restoration, PN candiate says Qbajjar Battery in Zebbug, Gozo. The Battery is 310 years old CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 The figure represents a rise of 19 students, or 1.2 percent, com- pared to the previous academic year when enrolments stood at 1,532. In 2021-2022, the total was 1,469. The data released by the NSO in its publication Students in Post-secondary and Tertiary Ed- ucation: 2023-2024, show that Gozo and Comino continue to account for the smallest share of tertiary students when com- pared to other districts. The Northern Harbour district recorded the highest number of students at 5,726, followed by the South Eastern district with 3,033, the Northern district with 3,106, the Western district with 2,663, and the Southern Har- bour district with 2,939. Nationally, total enrolments in post-secondary and tertiary institutions reached 32,675, an overall increase of 4.6 percent compared to the previous year. Of these, 10,399 students were enrolled at post-secondary level while 22,276 were in tertiary ed- ucation. The NSO report highlights a steady rise in participation across regions, with Gozo show- ing consistent though modest growth in higher education en- rolments. Most students enrolled in ter- tiary education in Gozo and Malta during the 2023-2024 ac- ademic year were aged between 20 and 24 years, making up 39 percent of all enrolments. Those under 20 accounted for 15.9 percent, while students aged between 30 and 49 represented nearly a quarter of the total. Business, administration and law remained the most popular field of study, attracting 30.6 percent of tertiary students, fol- lowed by health and welfare at 22.7 percent. Other fields with significant participation includ- ed social sciences, engineering, and information and communi- cation technologies. Gozo records increase in enrolments in post-secondary and tertiary education The NSO report highlights a steady rise in participation across regions, with Gozo showing consistent though modest growth in higher education enrolments