Applicants for teaching positions may have to present certification to prove they are not registered sex offenders, as part of a new set of proposals put forward by the Education Ministry.

The white paper on effective recruitment and selection procedures for people working with minors, which was opened for public consultation this morning, contains a total of 17 proposals based on recommendations by the Lisa Maria Foundation.

15-year-old Lisa Maria Zahra was found dead at Dingli cliffs last year. Her former drama teacher, Erin Tanti, is currently facing charges of murder, assisted suicide, defilement, being in possession of indecent images of a minor and abusing a position of trust.

Speaking this morning, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo stressed that the majority of educators and adults working with children were “serious, committed people” who had a positive influence on children’s lives.

He said the goal was not to encourage “paranoia or witch hunts” but that the disproportionate danger posed by a small minority had prompted the need for “robust and effective systems” to ensure the protection of children.

The proposals include simplifying access to the sex offenders’ register and the introduction of a Single Recruitment Record to ensure that information can be easily gathered and accessed by different employers.

It is also suggested that compromise agreements when an employee working with minors has the job terminated because of allegations of inappropriate behaviour should not be accepted.

The white paper also proposes more stringent screening and continuous training for educators, as well as the introduction of a specialised person in every institution as a first port of call where children’s well-being is concerned.

Foundation spokesman Winston J Zahra said the majority of the proposals had been drawn from best practices across Europe and would not cost much to implement.