The Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) has urged the government not to lose any more time on improving security at schools.

In a statement MUT referred to an incident that took place on Friday at the Naxxar Middle School, where three women were arrested after a fight outside the school. The union said the ‘serious’ incident that could have had much more serious consequences.

“The MUT sustains that the Ministry should not procrastinate anymore on this issue and that if things remain status quo the Union will have no option but to take the necessary action to protect workers in schools.”

“During the current scholastic year there have already been three serious cases reported in the media and the MUT notes that the trend in these cases is for them to be considered as isolated incidents.”

The teachers’ union also alleged that “everything possible is made for these cases to remain hidden so as to project the idea that everything is under control. This is being done in several ways, including the ongoing directions being given to schools.”

The MUT is asserting that these cases are serious enough and that the Ministry shouldn't wait for another case, and more victims, before implementing security measures including the continued presence of a security officer in schools and the strengthening of Police presence at the beginning and end of the school day when students are going in and out of the school.

“The MUT reiterates that the Ministry has already conducted a study on the security measures needed to be taken but the results of this study has been ignored.”