Birzebbuga Primary School - 1940/1946

When war broke out in Malta in June 1940 many schools, including the one in Birzebbuga, had to be closed down. Re-opening of schools had to be done with the utmost care. The safety of the children was an absolute priority and implied adequate shelters close to the schools.

Since it was inadvisable to have many children under one roof, schooling was carried out in 3 different buildings by 1943:

• At the Nuns' Convent at 3, Curate Fenech Street,
• In a house at 9, Curate Fenech Street, which the Government had rented from Joseph Vella from Rabat,
• In two rooms in the sacristy of the Church, which the Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Angelo Fenech had lent to the Government for this purpose.

Sister G. Antida Busuttil and Sister Euphrosina Briffa were amongst the Deputy Heads of School during those years of hardship. Since Birzebbuga was considered as one of the most heavily bombed and uninhabitable places during the war, the teachers were given travelling compensation.

By 1943 the fury of the war had abated. On 1^st September, the Royal Air Force gave the 'school down the bay' back to the Education authorities, after this had been taken over by the British Services on 10^th March 1941. But it wasn't long before the school had, once again, become too small for the number of children it had to accommodate.

On 17^th December 1945 the Royal Air Force authorities passed on the lease of a building at 91, Pretty Bay to the Education Department. This building, situated between the 'Claridge Hotel' and the 'Red House', had served as a store during the war and been known as the 'Hal Far Barracks Store'. (Today, a block of apartments stands where the school used to be).

The premises started functioning as a school on 9^th October 1946 and comprised six classrooms, which were taken up by the boys of primary age. This school took the name of Birzebbuga Boys' Primary School and its first Head was Mr Joseph Mifsud Bonnici. The girls and infants stayed on at 114, Pretty Bay, which school started to be known as Birzebbuga Girls' Primary School.

Top of Page