The Malta Union of Teachers protested today that heads and assistant heads at Sacred Heart primary school in St Julian's were resigning in rapid succession because of interference by the Sacred Heart Foundation.

Union president John Bencini said the last head of school had been constrained to leave after six months and the management and teachers felt they did not have the freedom to take initiatives.

The union, he said, had declared industrial action and was demanding a clear document from the foundation establishing what its duties were and delineating its own role and the roles of the management, the head of school and the teachers.

Speaking at a press conference outside the school, Mr Bencini said five heads of school had left the Sacred Heart in the past seven years since the foundation was created.

The last head of school to leave had enjoyed the support of the teachers, who wished to have her back.

However, he said, there was a total confusion with regard to the organisation structure of the school. It was not clear where the remit of the board ended ended vis-a-vis the head of school and the management.

The situation was creating unnecessary tension to the detriment of the school.

"The management does not feel free to take initiatives and members of management and teachers feel like a puppet on a string," Mr Bencini said.

In calling for the presentation of the document, Mr Bencini said he hoped the issue would stop there in the interests of the school and its good reputation.