Education Minister Owen Bonnici said that there is so far no need to close schools because of the Coronavirus cases that have hit Malta.

However, he said the ministry will take all the required decisions depending on what health authorities suggest.

Last Saturday, Malta registered the first case of Coronavirus breaching and the number has since grown to six.

Following a school visit at Guardian Angel School held earlier today, Bonnici was asked about the stand that the Education Ministry is taking in this regard.

The minister said that he is working hand-in-hand with the Health Ministry so as to implement any measures that nare recommended

He said that any children who have travelled to infected areas need to skip school and quarantine themselves for 14 days from their arrival date and yesterday Sicily was added to the list of such infected areas.

Additionally, sanitary procedures like washing of hands are being promoted in schools with around 2,300 hand sanitizers having been distributed across all classrooms in Malta.

Notably, despite these measures, some parents are still somewhat paranoid about the situation and are refusing to send their children to school without giving any specific explanation except for fear of their child contracting the virus.

The Malta Independent asked if the ministry is taking any steps towards reassuring parents that the situation is under control so that children do not miss lessons. Bonnici said that “from the figures we have seen since Monday, the amount of absences is not that worrying as it is marginal compared to last year which means that most parents are still sending children to school.”

He explained that the ministry abides by the recommendations that the health authorities give, based on the current Coronavirus situation which till now has only been imported as there have been no reports of person to person transmission of the virus.

This newsroom also asked if there are plans schools to close down if an outbreak takes place.

“We hope that we do not get to that stage but we will take any decisions required. The government took the decision to suspend all flights to Italy at the time in which it was needed and the same will apply here. You have to make a decision at the appropriate time and as things stand today since there is no sign of Maltese to Maltese transmission so the measures we have implemented are sufficient as experts have confirmed.”

This answer is similar to the one he gave to why he is not promoting mandatory quarantine on those children coming back from infected areas. He added that “educators and LSEs are helpful in this regard by ensuring that children coming from infected areas are quarantined.”

In Parliament

Speaking in Parliament later, Bonnici said that in the current situation there is no need to close schools. “We are constantly monitoring the situation and in discussion with Health Authorities, we have no need to close local schools,” explained Bonnici. 

Malta Union for Teachers is calling for schools to be closed for an established period of time in view of the spread of Coronavirus. Opposition leader, Adrian Delia asked Bonnici whether the Ministry consider closing schools and introducing online lessons. 

“We have had parents asking us whether the government will be closing schools as they are concerned regarding the current situation,” explained Bonnici. He said that currently most cases are now in self-quarantine and the situation is under control. “We are constantly in contact with the Public Health Authorities, and if they inform us that we need to take such directives, then we will do so, but for now there is no need.” On the topic of online teaching if schools are closed, Bonnici explained that such a decision needs to be taken with Unions who represent the interests of teachers.