H.E. Mr. Roberto Pace, Ambassador of Malta to Egypt, visited the Collège Saint Marc, a distinguished French institution in Alexandria run by the French Friars of De La Salle. Founded in 1928 and inaugurated by His Majesty King Fouad I, King of Egypt and Sudan, the Collège Saint Marc is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools in the city.

For decades, the Collège Saint Marc has maintained a special connection with the Maltese community in Egypt. At a time when French was widely spoken among Maltese families, the school’s high standard of French education made it a natural choice for many Maltese parents, leading to a significant number of Maltese students enrolling there over the years. Maltese educators also played a meaningful role in shaping the school’s legacy, most notably Mr. Georges Haddad, a former student who went on to serve as a dedicated science teacher for over 50 years.

The Maltese contribution to the school goes beyond education. One of the major donors to its original construction was Mr. Luigi C. Camilleri, a prominent Maltese figure whose generosity was instrumental in establishing the institution. Furthermore, Maltese craftsmanship was evident in the school’s early development, with the Joseph C. Buhagiar foundry providing metalwork that became part of the school’s enduring structure.

Ambassador Pace was warmly welcomed by Mr. Amir Stéphane, Principal of the School, Mr. Ramez Antone, Deputy Principal, and Mr. Georges Haddad. The Ambassador toured the school grounds, including the historic student archives where he was shown records of numerous Maltese graduates, reflecting the deep-rooted ties between the school and the Maltese community.

The visit also included stops at the school’s museum, the astronomy and chemistry laboratories, each housing rare and historic scientific equipment as well as the Centre de Vie, a dedicated facility supporting students with Down syndrome and other special educational needs.

As the first Maltese Ambassador to officially visit the school, Ambassador Pace signed the guest book and congratulated the school administration on their recent accreditation for the French Baccalauréat (Lycée) system, which will commence this coming September.

This visit was meant to honour the enduring educational and cultural connections between Malta and Egypt and reaffirm the recognition of institutions that have historically embraced its diaspora.

Amb. Pace was accompanied by Mrs. Bojana Dimitrovska, his spouse and Mr. Nadim Kanawati, a former student of the school and who is now employed by the Embassy.