Malta Union Of Teachers Pushes For School Audits Following Discovery Of Unhygienic Classroom Conditions
School facilities in Malta and Gozo should be audited following the discovery of unhygienic classroom conditions at St. Teresa School in Santa Venera, says Malta Union Of Teachers.
A Facebook post surfaced yesterday from a mother of one of the children attending St. Teresa in which she described the shocking and dangerous conditions that they found children’s classrooms in whilst taking a tour.
“We were shocked, and the smell from the toilet was like something died inside. The picture doesn’t even give away what was happening inside! Even toys were touching the mould and getting it!” she said.
In light of these findings, MUT has responded to the situation, stating that “the school leadership and educators did their utmost in ensuring that the necessary maintenance of the building is carried out” and went on to discuss how this was a result of “the priorities in education” not being right.
The current state of the building needs fixing beyond ordinary plastering and requires specialised personnel.
“Whilst the Ministry has forked out millions in the setting up labs for new applied subjects, boasting about them through costly campaigns being held daily, other schools including the said classroom in Sta Venera primary were left in a dilapidated state,” the press release continued.
Education authorities have received pressure from several fronts, including the parents of the children, who pleaded to Education Minister Evarist Bartolo to help them out before the school year starts in earnest.
“The upkeep of buildings affects not only the working conditions of educators but also the learning environment of students.”
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