A primary school teacher was yesterday threatened and verbally abused by a parent at Patri Felic Sammut School, in St Paul's Bay, prompting the Malta Union of Teachers to call once again for more security at schools.

The MUT said a mother barged into a classroom but when the teacher asked her to refer the matter to the head of school - as was standard practice - the woman refused and started shouting and insulting the teacher.

When contacted, MUT president John Bencini said that although the teacher was not physically harmed, the parent had barred her exit from the classroom and frightened the nine-year-old students out of their wits.

The MUT again appealed to the authorities to increase security at schools and to ensure there were adequate penalties imposed on offenders to act as a deterrent.