Mgarr school decision unreasonable - Ombudsman

A decision by the Mgarr Primary School in February last year not to open the school's main gate before school hours, (8.30am) since no supervision would be available, was unreasonable and contrary to the rules of good administration.

In a report published today on a complaint by a group of parents from Manikata, whose children aged three to eight, attended the school, the ombudsman said that the authorities should shoulder their full responsibilities and seek solutions for a situation that was manifestly unsafe and potentially extremely dangerous for schoolchildren.

Parents, the minivan service provider, the education authorities, the head of school and the Malta Union of Teachers were all, in varying degrees, responsible and in duty bound to seek and implement effective solutions, he said.

The Ombudsman disagreed with the stand taken by the education authorities that they were not to be held responsible for the safety or security of children before they were admitted to the school grounds.

Once the authorities provided school transport and took over the care and custody of children from the hands of parents onto minibuses detailed by them to transport schoolchildren to school, it was their duty to ensure that the children arrived at school, and within the school, safe and sound and without any risk to their safety.

"There is no way in which the education authorities can divest themselves of this responsibility short of suspending the school transport system," he said.

The ombudsman's full report can be read at the pdf link below.