Parents of schoolchildren are being told to ignore “any other instructions” given by schools that go against a circular issued by the Ministry of Education last June.

The Maltese Association of Parents of State School Students said it has received various complaints from parents related to school uniforms. “We are informed that some schools acted ultra vires and issued instructions to parents not to send their kids in any uniform except the P.E. kit. Furthermore, parents are complaining that the authorised supplier of school uniforms has failed to deliver items ordered weeks before the beginning of the scholastic year.” 

In view of the above, MAPSSS is giving these recommendations to parents:

·         Schools’ SMTs are required to abide by the circular issued by the Strategy and Support Department of the Ministry for Education on June 18th. This states: “During the Scholastic Year 2019/2020 the present uniform may be retained, whilst parents/legal guardians might send the students with the tracksuit, including polo shirt, t-shirt, shorts, cap and for winter the same jacket used to date”. In view of this, parents are being asked to ignore any other instructions given by specific schools.

·         Parents whose children grew out of their uniforms are being encouraged to seek temporary solutions by buying second-hand uniforms from parents of older students.

·         In cases where the authorised supplier did not deliver uniforms which were ordered by parents weeks and months in advance, MAPSSS is encouraging parents to send their children to school in plain clothing which matches or is very close to the colour scheme of the respective college.

MAPSSS insisted that no child or parent should be reprimanded by the schools for reasons which are beyond their control. Furthermore, MAPSSS urged the Ministry to insist that the Authorised Supplier has a sufficient supply of uniforms as is required per contract conditions.