An investigative committee has been set up to look into the “disastrous” organisation of Skolasajf earlier this month.

The popular state summer school programme was put on hold for one week the day before the service was meant to begin, due to “significant” staff shortages.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo had said the situation had not been brought to his attention until it was too late to avoid the postponement.

More than 10,800 students had signed up for the service, which was merged with the popular Klabb 3-16. Hundreds of parents were left fuming when they were forced to make alternate arrangements a few hours before the schools were meant to open their doors.

The investigative committee, chaired by Paul Bonello from the Education Department’s Quality Assurance Division, will have one month to deliver a report on what caused the shortage, who was responsible and why the minister was not informed until the eleventh hour.

Other members of the committee include Ray Camilleri, Noel Borg and Gemma Debono.

The Foundation for Educational Services was tasked with overseeing the merger as well as running the summer programme.

The shortages would have seen teachers stretched too thin

Last week, Mr Bartolo told Times of Malta that heads would roll for the poor organisation, especially for having kept him in the dark.

The Malta Union of Teachers, however, contradicted the minister’s claims, insisting it had informed the ministry of the worsening situation some three weeks prior to the final postponement.

MUT president Kevin Bonello said the shortages would have seen teachers stretched too thin to provide an adequate service. Last year, a coordinator (a warranted teacher) was assigned to each primary school hosting Skolasajf. However, this time, shortages would have meant a single coordinator responsible for as many as six or seven schools.

The FES resolved the situation by introducing more teachers as well as some 560 MCAST students to work as classroom assistants.