The Malta Union of Teachers has refused a proposal that it should talk to education authorities to clear up cases of alleged abuse on minor students before issuing directives to its members.

Answering a parliamentary question by Labour MP Evarist Bartolo, Education Minister Dolores Cristina said a head of school had received an allegation of abuse of a minor and, as laid down in the Child Protection Procedures, immediately informed the General Directorate of Education.

In the meantime, the parents of the student allegedly abused had lodged a report with Appoġġ Agency who started an investigation and to whom the case was also referred by the General Directorate. The parents also lodged a report with the police, who investigated the case in coordination with Appoġġ.

The MUT was informed by the learning support assistant and the union issued a directive that LSAs should not be alone when they took the children to the resource rooms.

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education held a meeting with the MUT and explained that the head of school had followed the established procedure.

Guidelines were agreed with the union to help employees defend themselves against allegations of abuse. This was when the PS and the GD suggested that talks should be held to clear things up before any directives were issued, but the MUT refused the suggestion.