A security guard has been called in to patrol the former Ħamrun lyceum as the bad behaviour at the school persists.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo told Parliament this week the reception area at the San Ġorġ Preca School was reorganised, and while it was manned by a messenger, another person trained in security would assist.

Earlier this month, the Malta Union of Teachers issued a number of directives to teachers working at the school, often labelled a “ghetto”, as the situation with unmanageable pupils continued to spiral out of control.

The school also made headlines in January 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 bail.

No formal charges have been brought against him in court so far. The police are still investigating the claims and other allegations involving another three girls, cases that have allegedly unfolded since the start of the scholastic year.

Two male physical education teachers have also been called in to help, assisting the other teachers with replacements, the minister said. He was replying to a parliamentary question from Opposition education spokesman George Pullicino.

In addition, members of the school’s senior management team were helping to monitor corridors, the minister said.

Efforts to clamp down on students not wearing the full uniform had also been stepped up, the minister said.

One of the directives issued by the MUT stipulated that teachers were not to give lessons in classes where students were not wearing their full uniform, which resulted in students missing lessons for weeks.

The minister said the issue related to class lists had been resolved and the school continued to be closely monitored by the director of educational services.

The MUT has for months called on the education authorities to act, insisting the situation was going from bad to worse.

claire.caruana@timesofmalta.com