Teachers at the former Ħamrun Liċeo will from today not give lessons in classes where a particularly unruly student is in attendance, as discipline problems at the school escalate.
The Malta Union of Teachers has issued directives to teachers working at San Ġorġ Preca School, often labelled a “ghetto”, as the situation with unmanageable pupils has continued to spiral out of control.
One of three directives given to teachers pinpoints a specific student against whom “proper disciplinary action” has yet to be taken, the union said.
“Since the situation at this school seems to be getting worse once again, partly because of measures taken and others not taken, the union is issuing the directives,” the MUT said in a statement.
According to union president Kevin Bonello, the MUT asked members for their feedback on what was going on at the school following an agreement reached with the Education Ministry and promised changes.
“Most of our members are protesting against decisions taken to allow different students special concessions in return for better behaviour.
“These arrangements are not only not working but are actively enticing other students to misbehave in order to get such arrangements, which include going to school without a uniform, or with a modified uniform or going home early,” Mr Bonello said.
MUT issues directives to teachers at school
As a result, the union has also instructed its members to refuse to give any lessons to students not wearing the school’s official uniform.
“In such cases educators, including LSAs, are to return to the staffroom and inform the senior management team they are following a union directive,” the directive says.
The school was in the spotlight in recent months after claims that a 32-year-old teacher allowed three boys to abuse a 14-year-old girl. The teacher was questioned by the police and released on police bail. No formal charges have been brought against him in court.
The police are investigating these claims and other allegations involving another three girls. The cases allegedly took place from the start of the scholastic year.
It is claimed that one of the female students was locked in a classroom by seven male students and the suspended teacher, and was then abused.
Subsequently, a series of compromising photos of the victim were allegedly posted on Snapchat. Soon after the incident, the school’s headmistress dismissed claims that the environment was similar to that in a ghetto. “When one considers the concentration of problems that still persist in this school even after the removal of around 11 ringleaders, if the management sincerely believes this statement [by the headmistress], then they either have no idea of the needs of the students in their school, especially those who come from a socially depressed area and a non-conventional subculture, or else the management has no idea how to manage a normal school,” Mr Bonello insisted.
A third directive for those assisting in the voluntary supervision of corridors states that if there is no head of school or one of the assistant heads present, staff should not monitor the corridors.
claire.caruana@timesofmalta.com