The government is “forcing parents” to make judgements about their children that goes beyond their capability, a source within the medical sector told The Malta Independent.

The source was discussing government’s decision to require medical certificates for each and every sick day a child takes from school.

Previously, if a child had a cold, then they could be kept home, however now this would either result in parents having to obtain a medical certificate or send their children to school sick, the source said. Some parents don’t have the money to take their child to a doctor each time, the source argued.

In order to obtain a certificate, parents would need to either pay for a doctor or go to a health centre, which will increase their workload, the source explained.

Some parents will send their children to school sick, resulting in sickness spreading to classmates, the source said.

PN spokesperson Joe Cassar, speaking with this newsroom, said that the party is happy that government is fighting absenteeism, “however it is likely that the decision regarding certificates was taken without consultation. As such, the PN asked if MAM, MUT, parents and other stakeholders were consulted on this decision”.

(MUT president Kevin Bonello)

MUT not consulted

Contacted by this newsroom, the Malta Union of Teachers said that they were not consulted and learnt of this through the media.

The Malta Union of Teachers agrees in principle with the idea of introducing measures that reduce the current levels of absenteeism. However the MUT notes, as it has stated many times in relation to other initiatives, “that such sudden decisions will not solve the problem unless they are accompanied by a proper structure”.

“As things stand, and without such a structure, situations will be created whereby children are sent to school even if they are unwell in order for the parents to avoid the additional costs and/or hassle of procuring a medical certificate. The union is therefore suggesting that schools are provided with measures that will ensure that children who are sick are kept at home for the health and safety of other children. This may include on call doctors or nurses who can visit the school if any of the schoolchildren is suspected to be unwell for any reason”.

“The structure must also be accompanied by measures to safeguard schools against the minority of irresponsible parents who bring their children to school when sick and then refuse to recollect them, in some cases even refusing to answer phone calls. In the past, in fact, the union had to intervene in cases where parents sent their children to school when it was evident that they were suffering from various serious conditions such as measles, chicken pox and even scarlet fever. With this standalone measure, such occurrences are bound to increase”.

Discussions on Facebook

A discussion on the Facebook  page “Is-Salott” has broken out regarding students requiring a medical certificate for each day they call in sick.

One comment read: “This isn’t a solution as those who want to skip won’t do so for three days a month, but will skip school far more often. People who really need to be absent from school will suffer from this measure”.

Another in favor, arguing that students have enough leave each year and that students shouldn’t skip school for no reason.