A three-year-old boy who walked out of Skolasajf in Fgura was taken to a police station by a concerned woman, the police have confirmed.

The incident happened earlier this week.

The young boy slipped out from the primary school in Triq it-Taghlim without anybody noticing and walked a distance of some four blocks to the area near Chains Supermarket, where a man noticed that he was alone and took him to the police station.

EDUCATION MINISTRY REACTION

The Education Ministry in a reaction said that last Monday it received a report by the Foundation for Educational Services of a boy who slipped out of school during Skola Sajf after he went to the toilet unaccompanied.

Instead of returning to the classroom the child left the school.

The teacher immediately notified the centre co-ordinator. The teacher went out to look for him. The child, it said, was found some time later in the vicinity of the school.

"The Education Ministry is investigating the case and deems the incident as unacceptable, especially if, as suspected, the gates were open. The authorities took immediate action on Monday to ensure the main door and the gates are closed at all times and that young children are not left unaccompanied in all circumstances across all schools," the ministry said.

PN: A SHOCKING CASE

The PN spokesman for education, Joe Cassar, said this was a shocking case which should place the focus on safety and security in schools, without involving politics.

Parents needed to be assured that their children were given the best education in a secure environment. 

Unfortunately, Dr Cassar said, this case was the result of bad administration which had marred Skolasajf from day one this summer. 

Children, and their parents, deserved better.