NATIONAL MINIMUM CONDITIONS FOR ALL SCHOOLS REGULATIONS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 605.02

NATIONAL MINIMUM CONDITIONS

FOR ALL SCHOOLS REGULATIONS

1st January, 1991

LEGAL NOTICE 150 of 1990, as amended by Legal Notice 196 of 1994

and Act XXIX of 2019.

The title of these regulations is the National Minimum

Conditions for all Schools Regulations.

National Minimum Conditions for all Schools

1. General

1.1 School premises must be suited to the type and level of

education provided.

1.2 They should be well ventilated, protected from heat, cold

and humidity, well lighted and with natural light and with suitably

high ceilings.

1.3 They must be kept clean, well maintained and in good

structural condition.

1.4

They must be free of hazards to safety and good health.

1.5 Schools accommodating more than 7 classes on a full-time

basis and for students of compulsory school age must be purposely

built as a school and are to contain the necessary out-door space for

the children’s recreation.

1.6 Space and classrooms must not be crammed but there

should be room for movement.

1.7 Classrooms are to have an entrance on to a main corridor;

the movement of pupils through other classes is to be avoided.

1.8 School entrances and exits on to main roads are to have

protective barriers to avoid accidents.

1.9 Where the number of students exceeds fifty of an age

below sixteen, a traffic sign indicating the presence of a school is to

be affixed as directed by the Police.

1.10 School premises are subject to inspection by Health

Inspectors at any time.

1.11 Schools housed in private premises are not to cause

inconvenience to neighbours.

1.12 Schools are open to inspection by Education Department

officials at any time.

2. Classroom Space

2.1 The number of students up to compulsory school age, in

any one class is not to exceed 30.

2.2 In deciding the number

of

students

that

can

be

accomodated in any one classroom;

2.2.1 a border, 2 metres wide, is to be left free as teacher’s

space.

2.2.2 a working space of 1 1 / 2 square metres is to be

allowed for each pupil over the age of 5 years.

2.2.3 a working space of 1 1 / 2 square metres may be

allowed in the case of children under 5 years of age, provided

that there also exists an indoor playing and movement area for

children. Otherwise classes will not exceed 20 children in

number and 3 square metres are to be allotted for each child in

the classroom.

2.2.4 In the case of adults over compulsory school age and

evening classes, a minimum of 1 square metre can be allotted

for each student not engaged in laboratory or workshop work.

2.3

The standard size of a classroom is to be 8 metres square.

The National minimum conditions, for all schools, for the

purpose of the Education Act, shall be those set out in the Schedule

to these regulations.

Laboratories, Workshops, etc.

3.1 The number of students in any laboratory, workshop or

non-class area, in a school is to be related to the size of the space

and the use to which it is put.

3.2 Minimum accommodation requirements are 2 square

metres per student exclusive of teacher ’s space and furniture/

machinery space.

3.3 The maximum number of students allowed in any

workshop using craft machinery is 20.

3.4 Laboratories and workshops should be equipped with

adequate safety measures such as fume-cupboards, fire-

extingui shers, a first aid-b ox an d el ectric circuit breakers.

Dangerous equipment and materials, tools and (other aids) which

present a hazard to health and safety should be under the direct

control of the teacher and properly stored. Machines are to have the

necessary safeguards and instructions on their proper use.

3.5 When dangerous material and equipment are necessarily to

be kept in a laboratory or workshop the danger is to be clearly

indicated.

3.6 Rooms used as theatres for the production of plays, the

exhibition of films, etc. to large groups of students are to be

equipped with the necessary fire-extinguishers and properly

indicated exits.

3.7 Laboratories, workshops, school theatres etc. are subject to

inspection by the proper authorities and are bound to comply with

existing regulations.

Toilet facilities

4.1 Schools are to have toilet facilities at the rate of 1 toilet per

35 pupils.

4.2 Schools which cater for the part-time/evening education of

adult students are to be adequately supplied with a minimum of two

toilets and an additional toilet for every 60 students attending the

premises at any one time.

4.3

The above does not include staff and teachers’ toilets.

4.4 Toilets are to be suited to the age and height of students

and pupils.

4.5 They are to be kept in good hygienic conditions, and have

cleaning materials and toilet paper available at all times.

4.6 There are to be wash-hand basins, equipped with soap and

towels, in the proportion of one per 35 pupils, or in the case of part-

time schools for adult students one per 60 students.

4.7 The wash-hand basins should be installed at a height suited

to the age and height of the students.

Drinking Water

5.1 All schools should have an adequate number of water taps

outside toilet areas, and the water should be potable from sources

which supply fresh running water.

Playground Space

6.1 Every school catering for the full-time education of

students of compulsory school age must have an adequate open-air

playing space where the students can take their recreation and long-

breaks.

6.2 In special cases, permission will be given to schools to use

in-door playground space provided this is strictly reserved for

recreation and unless an alternative site for an open-air playing

space can be obtained.

6.3 Schools catering for the education of children below

compulsory school age and on a bases of not more than 3 1 / 2 hours a

day, may use an indoor playing and movement area of suitable size

is to be available as per 2.2.3.

6.4 The minimum size of an open-air playing space is at the

rate of 5 square metres per child for the first 300 children and 3

square metres for every additional child.

Hygiene

7.1 Schools must keep to existing sanitary regulations as

regards hygiene. This is to include classroom, toilet and playground

hygiene, food hygiene, in tuck-shops and cafeterias and dormitories

and living accomodation in the case of boarding schools.

7.2 Schools are subject to the inspection by health inspectors

in this connection and they are to abide by their instructions and

recommendations. The health inspectors will submit a report to the

Minister responsible for education.

Teaching Staff

8.1 Teaching Staff are to have a warrant to teach in a school in

accordance with the provisions of the Education Act.

8.2 Licensed Private Schools are to conform with the minimum

qualifications requirements of teachers in state schools for the

appointments of their teaching staff.

8.3 Appointments at all levels of teaching staff (including

Heads and Assistant Heads of School) are to have the prior notice

of the Minister responsible for education.

8.4 Other Staff. The school is to maintain a cleaning staff in a

sufficient number to ensure the general cleanliness of the school

premises.

School Times

9.1 Schools which cater for the education of compulsory

school age have to conform to the total number of hours per year as

is required in state schools.

Inspection and Information

10.1 In conformity with the provisions of the Education Act,

any school is subject to inspection by officials from the Department

of Education.

When a school is so inspected a report shall be drawn up by

the official assigned for this purpose and a copy shall be entered in

the Department of Education School file, whilst another copy is to

be sent to the particular school, together with such remarks as the

Director of Education or the Minister might deem fit to add.

10.2 Formal school inspections which will review the

conditions of the licence of the school and the standards of

education imparted will be carried out at least every 3 years and the

Inspectors will submit their Report and Recommendations to the

Minister responsible for education.

10.3 Schools catering for the education of children of

compulsory school age will strictly abide with School Attendance

Regulations as issued by the Director of Education (Education

Welfare Section).

10.4 Schools will submit to the Minister of Education or the

Director of Education such returns and information as is required

from time to time.

School changes

11.1 Changes in ownership, contracts, Head of School and

address of premises are to be notified to the Minister of Education

in advance.

11.2 Changes of premises or extensions to schools are to have

the previous authorisation of the Minister of Education following

an application by the Head of School.

11.3 Changes m the licence conditions of the school including

the level and the total number of students enrolled must be notified

to and have the previous approval of the Minister.

11.4 Changes in School Teaching Staff are to be notified to the

Director of Education.

Other Conditions

12.1 Schools are to abide by the conditions set out in any

particular licence.

12.2 The Teachers’ Code of Behaviour shall be adhered to by all

teaching staff in all schools.

12.3 No alteration in rates of payment of school fees or other

dues shall be made without giving prior notice thereof to the

Minister of Education at least one month before the proposed

change is to come into effect

Provided that rates of payment of school fees or other dues

fixed at the beginning of any scholastic year may not be increased

for the duration of that whole scholastic year.