€6 Million Investment For San Miguel Centre To help Students With Disabilities
Students attending the San Miguel Primary Education Resource Centre in Pembroke will benefit from a range of new specialised facilities aimed at strengthening educational and therapeutic services.
A new sensory hydrotherapy pool, jacuzzi and multi-sensory pods are being developed as part of a €6 million project led by the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools.
Works on the facility are progressing and the new services are expected to become fully available to students by the end of the year.
The project is intended to enhance the learning environment for students with disabilities by providing facilities designed around their individual needs.
During a visit to the centre, Minister for Education and Sport Byron Camilleri said investment in inclusive education must go beyond principles and result in practical services and opportunities that support every student.
San Miguel Centre currently provides full-time education to more than 20 children aged between three and 11, while also offering support services to around 60 students from state, Church and independent schools.
Sensory activities form an important part of the educational process for many of the children attending the centre, with the new facilities expected to improve access to therapeutic support.
The new complex will cover 557 square metres and will be directly accessible from the school building. It will also have a separate entrance, allowing the facility to operate independently outside school hours.
The sensory hydrotherapy pool and jacuzzi will be able to accommodate up to 16 people at once.
The development will include specially equipped sanitary facilities and showers, a first aid room, storage areas, a pool pump room and two multi-purpose rooms, each capable of hosting up to 30 people.
These additions will allow San Miguel Centre to expand the specialised services available to students and provide a more tailored educational experience.
Architect Francesca Axisa from the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools described the project as the foundation’s first of its kind, highlighting its importance beyond the technical aspects of construction.
She said the facility was designed to meet the needs of the students and professionals who will use it.
The extension was developed in close consultation with the centre’s management and was designed to complement the existing school building.
Although structurally independent, the new complex will be connected through a corridor to ensure accessibility for students and support the work of educators.
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Photo Source: DOI - Kian Bugeja