Teachers of several State schools have signed petitions calling on the government to reconsider the redeployment of at least six heads of school.

Speaking to Times of Malta on condition of anonymity, teachers expressed their grief that school heads had been transferred, especially since they considered them to be most effective.

In their petition, the teachers and staff at Gżira Primary school said they were shocked when they learnt that the headmaster had been given a transfer.

They said he had started several projects from which students were benefiting.

“We have seen a big change in the management of this school and many of these projects require more time to come to fruition so this school cannot afford to lose a leader who was not even given the chance to deliver what he had planned,” they said, in a petition signed by the entire school team.

A spokesman for the Education Ministry confirmed that the petitions had been received but defended the decisions to transfer the heads, saying this was done in the children’s best interest.

Heads who have been found to be effective are being transferred

“The ministry received petitions from San Ġwann Primary A and from Gżira Primary.

“The deployment of heads was carried out in the interest of the children to ensure effective educational leadership of our schools,” the Education Ministry spokesman said, when contacted.

The Malta Union of Teachers said it was concerned about the transfer and about the fact that, aside from lack of consultations, the heads were given no reason for their redeployment.

In its statement, the teachers’ union said that, while the deployment of State school heads was a prerogative of the government, it could not understand why the results of audit exercises were not taken into consideration when decisions were being taken.

“Heads who have been found to be effective are being transferred just the same to the detriment of the schools, community and purposes of continuity,” it said.

“The MUT expects that heads of schools are given more feedback about the performance of their leadership.

“The union also hopes that a situation is not created whereby heads cannot create a long-term development plan for their school for fear of unanticipated changes,” the union said.