More stringent procedures concerning the recruitment and selection of adults working with minors are being proposed in a white paper which was launched by the Education Ministry this morning.

The white paper, which includes a total of 17 recommendations, is based on proposals which had been submitted by The Lisa Maria Foundation earlier this year.

The foundation was set up by the Zahra family following the death of 15-year-old Lisa Maria Zahra, who was found dead at the bottom of Dingli cliffs on 19 March, 2014. Erin Tanti, her drama teacher, was found a short distance away, slightly injured.

Mr Tanti was subsequently charged with murdering Ms Zahra, assisting her suicide, defiling and participating in sexual acts with her, being in possession of indecent images of a minor and abusing a position of trust. Criminal proceedings against him are ongoing.

At a press conference this morning, hotelier and foundation member Winston J. Zahra said that the foundation's primary aim was to ensure that something positive would come out of the tragic death of his cousin.

Mr Zahra stressed that the foundation was certain that the health and safety of students was very much at heart to the vast majority of those working in educators, and that it did not believe that there was a great number of unsuitable people working in the sector.

Nevertheless, he said, the foundation still felt that there was room for improvement in the way educators were recruited and selected.

On his part, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said that he was happy to find that the foundation's proposals were not a "paranoid, hysterical document which assumes that the solution is to carry out witch hunts, or assume that everyone is a danger.'

"It would be a mistake to create a climate of terror and fear in which a teacher cannot even hug a student," he added.

The white paper is up for consultation until mid-August, and Mr Bartolo said that he hoped that church and independent schools analysed the recommendations promptly as they were still in time to make their submissions.

An end to 'compromise agreements'

Mr Zahra noted that the recommendations are not costly to implement, pointing out that many came at zero cost to educational institutions.

Appropriate training is emphasised, with the white paper suggesting that part of the training for educators should focus on ethics, behaviour and professional issues. Training is also recommended for those involved in the recruitment and interviewing of those applying to work with minors, to help detect any suspicious behaviour at an early stage.

Adverts and applications for posts were adults will be working with minors are considered to be the first line of defence, and the white paper recommends that applicants should undergo a screening process to ensure that they are fit to work in such environments.

While educational institutions can presently check if applicants are in the sex offenders' register, the process is presently cumbersome and costly, requiring the filing of a court application. The white paper recommends simplifying this by enabling applicants to get a certificate proving that their name is not on their register.

Newly qualified educators and staff who are going to work with minors should undergo an induction programme and given a handbook with clearly outlined boundaries. All persons coming into regular contact with minors should also undergo regular information sessions and training.

Clear policies should outline procedures in the case of allegations of inappropriate behaviour by adults working with minors, and the white paper also calls for an end to so-called "compromise agreements,"  through which a staff member agrees to resign while a school agrees not to pursue disciplinary actions when allegations are made with respect to staff members.

The white paper proposes that the terminations of employment of staff members working with minors should be accompanied by a letter from the employer declaring that the termination was not the result of any offence related to minors. Whenever any form of child abuse is suspected, such "compromise agreements" should be outlawed and schools would be obliged to report to the competent authorities.