The Malta Federation of Ogranisaitons Persons with Disability (MFOPD) was not involved in any of discussions or decision making in the planning of two new government schools for children with disabilities, to be opened in the next five years. The Malta Independent had reported about the planned schools after Education Minister Evarist Bartolo had replied to a parliamentary question last week.

Bartolo had said that two out of six new government schools planned for the next five years – San Miguel School in Zejtun and Guardian Angel School in Hamrun - will be schools for children with a disability. These are currently in the design stage.

In a statement to this newspaper, the MFOPD President Marthese Mugliette said the federation had only found out about the decision through the aforementioned newspaper report.

The MFOPD is the national umbrella organization for the disability sector and is the voice of Malta on various EU for a in regard to disability issues discussed at the EU level.

“The Federation was not involved in such discussions and decision. Does the Maltese Government really and truly believed/s in all the United Nation Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD) states when Malta signed and ratified this Convention?”

MFOPD stated that wanted to remind the government of the following statements from the UNCRPD:

Preamble - The State Parties to the present Convention, (o): “Considering that persons with disabilities should have the opportunity to be actively involved in decision-making processes about policies and programmes, including those directly concerning them”, and Article 4 – point no 3: “In the development and implementation of legislation and policies to implement the present Convention, and in other decision-making processes concerning issues relating to persons with disabilities, States Parties shall closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, through their representative organizations.”

“At this point we ask, was there a ‘reservation’ with regards which we are not aware of?” concluded the statement by MFOPD.