“Mario Mallia and his staff were already making a difference. You do not want that. You simply want to destroy what they have built. Whoever applies and is chosen would have to live in Mr Mallia’s shadow,” one person said.

“Mr Mallia is our leader – we love and respect him, and the fact that you are bulldozing over him and us really says something about the kind of boss you are,” one teacher said.

“I am not looking forward to working with you.”

Zahra took umbrage to some remarks and has even sent an email to Marco Bonnici, the MUT President, over the issue. He even threatened to take the matter to the police if Bonnici does not act.

The particular comment, issued by a teacher, called Zahra “bile”, warning that if he sends a lawyer, she will be happy to talk about “others people are afraid of”.

Mallia was recently fired from his position as Headmaster and he claims his tenure was terminated over the introduction of inclusive measures at the Catholic school. The school has denied the claims, insisting that it was the result of “various managerial and procedural issues”.

The decision to axe Mallia after 16 years as headmaster of the school led to a flood of outrage on social media, from former students and colleagues to other academics, popular opinionists and even TikTok star Henry Galea.