Mater Dei School
Quarries Street,
Msxida, MSD 03
E-Mail:- materdei.sns@gov.mt
Tel:- 21 236620; Fax:- 21 236620

“Mater Dei” school is a day school, run by the Education Division, under the Director of Student Services and International Relations. Our school is situated at Quarries Street, Msida. It caters for boys with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties affecting their school, home and personal lives.

The school was opened on the 7th January 1966. It is an all age school and is the only one of its type in Malta and Gozo. The purpose of “Mater Dei” is to help its students and their families with problems, so that their child would hopefully be integrated when the time is opportune. If on the other hand , the student is approaching school leaving age, when he is admitted, we try to give also guidance to help him in his future life.

“Mater Dei” aims to develop its pupils as ‘whole persons’, not just to study and pass exams. Our primary aim is to solve the emotional, behavioural and social problems of the child concerned and it’s only when we succeed to do this, that educational success is obtained and guaranteed. We help the child grow morally, socially and spiritually, so as to reach their full potential. This is done through class based lessons, general assemblies, educational visits, cultural tours, counselling and character modification. We also endeavour to instil in our pupils a sense of honesty, discipline, responsibility and respect towards authority. The school’s educational aim is to provide the child with a tailor made individual programme without deviating much from the National Curriculum.

The school is built on an unused quarry. It is below ground level and it has just a ground floor. The building consists of a Head teacher’s office, an assembly room, a fully furnished workshop, and arts/crafts room, a school hall which also serves as a dining room, three classes and a small gym. There is also a medium sized football ground covered with soft tarmac.

The present staff of “Mater Dei” school is made up of two fully trained teachers - Mr. L. Zammit and Mr. J. Cassar, a clerk and a full-time caretaker. In the absence of a Head of School, Mr. L. Zammit is serving as Acting Head. Mater Dei can be contacted on phone number 236620.

Aim: To help pupils re-integrate into the mainstream through behaviour modification methods. This approach helps pupils to continue to grow morally, spiritually and socially. Honesty, responsibility and discipline are the hallmarks of I.E.P.(Individual Educational Program). Admission is recommended by a team of professionals acting on the outcome of a case study. Teachers at Mater Dei need stamina, patience and flexibility so as to help pupils adjust and control themselves. Results are not always evident. A clear vision and determination to move forward with a sense of tolerance are the prerequisites of every teacher at Mater Dei.