Brief History

Brief History

This brief history of the school’s foundation is part (Chapter 3) of a dissertation entitled “History of Church Schools in Gozo”, presented by Mr Simon Mizzi, an ex-student of the school, in May 2002.

St. Francis School – House of Charity

Since time immemorial, men and women of noble intentions came up with ideas of havens for youngsters in need of shelter and a sound moral education. Father Giuseppe Diacono, was such a person and Saint Francis School owes its beginning to this man.

The Twelve Stars

Father Diacono was born in Rabat, Gozo in 1847 … On 4 January 1878, Archpriest Felice Refalo appointed him Spiritual Director of the association of the “Crown of Twelve Stars of the Heart of Jesus” …This association consisted of group of young women who met periodically to pray and discuss ways in which to show devotion to the Sacred Heart. Father Diacono was happy to guide these pious women and immediately set up a more detailed programme of action for this group… Under the guidance of Father Diacono, the number of women increased considerably, and early in 1879, Father Diacono rented a house, at 54 Triq Ghajn Qatet for a modest fee so that the group could gather there.

Meanwhile the meetings became more frequent and those responsible for the upkeep of the house went there every day. This house was named Casa di Carita’ – House of Charity, and it became the focal point of a host of spiritual and social gatherings, the former presided by Father Diacono, the latter presided by the members of the Twelve-starred Crown… At a time when the rights of women were practically unheard of, this energetic priest wanted to found a community where spirituality and labour would prevail… Fully conscious that poverty thrives on ignorance, he set up classes to impart basic education to the poor so that one day they could help themselves out of their own adversities. Secondly he organised lace-making lessons, thus greatly raising the standards of the product and hence increasing the income of lace-makers from its sale.

A Sure Start

Father Diacono was born in Rabat, Gozo in 1847 … On 4 January 1878, Archpriest Felice Refalo appointed him Spiritual Director of the association of the “Crown of Twelve Stars of the Heart of Jesus” …This association consisted of group of young women who met periodically to pray and discuss ways in which to show devotion to the Sacred Heart. Father Diacono was happy to guide these pious women and immediately set up a more detailed programme of action for this group… Under the guidance of Father Diacono, the number of women increased considerably, and early in 1879, Father Diacono rented a house, at 54 Triq Ghajn Qatet for a modest fee so that the group could gather there.

Meanwhile the meetings became more frequent and those responsible for the upkeep of the house went there every day. This house was named Casa di Carita’ – House of Charity, and it became the focal point of a host of spiritual and social gatherings, the former presided by Father Diacono, the latter presided by the members of the Twelve-starred Crown… At a time when the rights of women were practically unheard of, this energetic priest wanted to found a community where spirituality and labour would prevail… Fully conscious that poverty thrives on ignorance, he set up classes to impart basic education to the poor so that one day they could help themselves out of their own adversities. Secondly he organised lace-making lessons, thus greatly raising the standards of the product and hence increasing the income of lace-makers from its sale.

Fulfilling the promise

 The people of Rabat accepted the new Congregation with true signs of joy and approval because these noble women were taking care of their own children and their life of poverty and simplicity was an example to all. The House of Charity soon became too small for the regular functioning of the work of the community and Father Diacono acquired a larger house nearer to the centre of the town. This dwelling situated at 10, Strada Palma was bought from the Lawyer Giovanni Caruana, and the transfer to the new House of Charity was carried out on 15 January 1882.
Even if the Franciscan community was a religious order, with a life of prayer, apostolate, and reparation, the sisters amply fulfilled the main aim listed in the petition: that of educating the poor. With the opening of the first Casa di Carita’ in Triq Ghajn Qatet and even more so now with the new House of Charity, the Franciscan Tertiaries had committed themselves to work in favour of abandoned youth and infants. Children were given the basics of pedagogical knowledge from educated sisters while girls were taught how to cook and keep a home.

A typical day at the school was organised as follows: the morning was dedicated to prayers and catechism, in mid-morning the children were taught how to read and write and then in the afternoon the girls were engaged in crafts. Apart from this, the sisters organised lace-making lessons, providing a source of income for themselves and the girls in their custody. The school day finished at three o’clock and the sisters used to accompany the children back home, visiting the St. Francis chapel on the way.
The house at Palm Street was soon filled with new life, echoing with joyful voices of small children, the choir of prayers and songs, and games. School registers dated September 1905 show that the first classes were composed of thirty students, aged from five to nine. They were all from Rabat and were divided into three classes, not according to age but apparently according to proficiency in reading and writing.
The school register also includes the parents’ occupation and according to this information, there does not seem to be prevalence by any particular social class in school admissions. Some of the children were paying a modest fee, however the majority was attending free of charge. Unfortunately, the first pages in this register have been torn out, but the data available is enough to grant a very positive report about the school in its early years. 

A new leader

One of the very first teachers at the school was Virginia De Brincat. She was highly educated and had a sharp mind… She was highly reputed by her colleagues and by Father Diacono himself. By 1885 his authority in the direction and the organisation of the institution receded into the background… Father Diacono donated all the property registered under his name to the Congregation. From then on, Virginia DeBrincat entered the limelight as the new leader. On 8 December 1887, she took her religious name as Sister Margherita of the Sacred Heart when she was the first to be professed in conformity with Ecclesiatical Law.

Different fortunes

The newspaper “Il Patriota” of 25 May 1885 describes the foundation as “an institute of Franciscan Tertiaries that live in common. Penitence, prayer and work are their main occupations and with these they added the education of poor girls.” In January 1888, Sr. Margherita was appointed Superior General. She held this post for twenty-four years. Her leadership steered the institute through internal and external pitfalls and continued to offer a sound education to the children of Gozo. Old sisters still residing at the convent recall that the primary school never ceased to function even if at times the financial situation was unsustainable. Nevertheless, with God’s help and under the admirable guidance of Madre Margherita and successive administrations, the Franciscan Sisters were capable of opening three other nursery schools in Gozo, and four other primary schools in Malta.

st fr                     st fr2

The student population varied from year to year and whereas in 1926 sixty-five students were admitted, in 1930 only nineteen were accepted. During the Second World War years, there seems to be a change in the age of enrolment. Whilst in 1939 the newly admitted were all three or four year olds, in 1940 there were a few students admitted at the age of eleven and twelve. In these years some not typically Gozitan surnames like Albani, Borda, Bajona, Bonavia, Coleiro, Darmanin, Serraceno and others are listed in the admission register. These surnames belonged to the Maltese families that came to Gozo to seek shelter during the war years. In fact, the number of students increased considerably in these years, and in 1941, one hundred and ten students were accepted in the school. However, the majority spent only two or three years at the school, since many of the Maltese families that passed the war sheltered in Gozo returned to Malta soon after. The newly admitted in 1978 were just ten, however school headmistress Madre Teresia Buttigieg recalls that by the end of that year the number increased to fifty.

Year Admissions                        Classes offered    Total no. of students
1880 30 2 classes 30
1900 30 a 2 classes Approx. 40
1920 20 Stage 1, Stage 2, Standard 1, Standard 2 Approx. 85
1930 19 Stage 1, Stage 2, Standard 1, Standard 2 Approx. 80
1940 60 Infants, Stage I, Stage 2 Approx. 125
1950 60 Kindergarten, Preparation 1, Stage 1 Approx. 140
1960 39 Kindergarten, Preparation 1, Preparation 2 Approx. 80
1970 40 Kindergarten, Preparation 1, Preparation 2 Approx. 80
1980 b 30 Nursery, Preparation, Kinder, Year 1 142
1990 c 30 Pre-Kinder to Year 6 240
2000 30 Kinder 1 to Year 6 236

a   admitted at different times of the year
b   the attendance register was commenced in 1978
c   as from scholastic year 1985/86 the school had classes from Pre-Kinder to Year 6

We must keep in mind that compulsory primary education came into force only in 1946 with the Compulsory Education Ordinance. Thus it is very difficult to determine the exact school population prior to this legislation since a number of students left the school halfway through a scholastic year.

As from the scholastic year 1979/1980 the school set-up was altered and a successive class was added each year until in the scholastic year 1985/1986 the school had all eight classes from Pre-Kinder to Year 6. The convent was not intended to serve as a school so some of the larger rooms were partitioned in order to accommodate such large numbers of students.

Setting the standards

 As years passed by and the school gathered more ground, it deservedly won a reputation of being a high standard church school. Successive administrators addressed the needs of different times and in 1986 the first lay woman was recruited to teach in this school. However to this very day the number of lay teachers as compared to Sisters who teach at the school is well balanced with four lay teachers and four Sisters. Although some subjects like sewing, lace-making, crafts, home economics and music were transformed into extra curricular activities, the bulk of the other academic subjects have remained unaltered during the years. At present the school offers: Religion, Maltese, English, Mathematics, Science, Geography, Social Studies, Physical education, and reading and writing skills. The Curriculum is further enriched with a number of extra-curricular activities like singing, recitals and music. The School has always followed the Curriculum set by the Education Department since the majority of students sit for the Junior Lyceum Examinations.