The doctors’ association has supported a call to combat irregular sick certificates being given to parents of truant children but insists it has no knowledge of the practice. President Gordon Caruana Dingli said the Medical Association of Malta was willing to discuss resolving alleged abuses but he had not heard of instances of certificates being issued unnecessarily.

I am not aware of any cases of sick leave certification for children that was not called for

“MAM will never condone any abuse but I am not aware of any cases of sick leave certification for children that was not called for,” he told The Sunday Times of Malta, adding it would cooperate for the good of the education system.

The proposed dialogue would form part of the upcoming revision of the Education Act and was put forward by Cospicua primary school head Marion Falzon Ghio on Thursday.

This, she had said, was due to poor parental judgement, a lack of enforcement and a number of dubious doctors’ certificates.

“I have seen certificates covering different parts of the year on the same form. This can’t be accepted,” she said.

The outspoken school head called for unity between professionals for the good of children who were being deprived of their right to education.

Asked whether the discussion would help resolve the alleged abuse, Dr Caruana Dingli said: “It should focus on the reasons why families do not send their children to school. Once these are explained, measures can be taken to improve the situation, removing the need for any abuse of sick leave certification.”

The Health Ministry had not replied to questions by the time of writing.