The school that took on supply drama teacher Erin Tanti notified the authorities about his employment, a spokesman for the Education Ministry said yesterday.
However, Mr Tanti – who started teaching at St Michael’s Foundation in November – was still legally obliged to apply for a temporary warrant, something he had not done, the spokesman pointed out.
Mr Tanti, who survived the Dingli Cliffs tragedy that claimed the life of his 15-year-old student, Lisa Maria Zahra, on March 19, was yesterday charged with her murder.
Last week, St Michael’s Foundation, where Ms Zahra was a student, was nudged into producing proof of legitimacy for Mr Tanti’s employment after the Council for the Teaching Profession (CTP) said he had not even applied for its warrant.
The council’s declaration seemed to contradict the school’s statement, a day earlier, that “all teachers have the necessary approvals from the authorities”.
This would include the necessity for an adequate police conduct and clearance
It was released the same day Education Minister Evarist Bartolo wrote to the council and to his ministry’s permanent secretary to say action must be taken to ensure that all school teachers, including supply staff, had a warrant.
To address the concerns of its students’ parents, St Michael’s Foundation said the Education Regulatory Compliance Section – which regulates non-State schools – approved Mr Tanti and he was in the process of obtaining a warrant.
A ministry spokesman said the council had wanted to clarify inaccurate reporting in sections of the media. “At no stage did the CTP say that the school didn’t notify the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education for the latter’s acknowledgment,” the spokesman said.
The directorate’s approval ensured the “eligibility of the individual for the specific role”.
“This would include the necessity for the individual to meet the minimum qualifications for the post, an adequate police conduct and clearance by the Attorney General to the school in compliance with the Protection of Minors Act”