School visits in the early twentieth century : the case of Mosta Primary (1900-1925)

Abstract

The village of Mosta got its purpose-built school in 1898. This was one of the earliest of such buildings in Malta carried out by the colonial government, because schools up to the first half of the twentieth century were generally rented houses. Many of these proved utterly inadequate for schooling purposes. From a 1900 report by the Acting Inspector of Primary Schools Prof. Enrico Magro, it transpires that the Government had 48 schools (38 in Malta and 10 in Gozo) of which 35 were rented private properties. This meant that the school of Mosta was one of only 13 owned by the Government. The students and teachers in the Mosta Primary School building – divided into two separate schools, one for the boys and another for the girls, according to current practice – were fortunate in that they could carry out their educational experience in a more suitable environment. Their work was bound to be of better quality given that the classrooms were generally spacious and welcoming; essential amenities were more available – such as a yard for recreation and assembly; and the building itself was big enough to handle all those who wished to gain an education. The Mosta building, at the time consisting of a ground floor, was, up to the first quarter of the twentieth century, ample enough to accommodate all the children of the Mostin who registered them to attend school.