The Nationalist Party has urged caution on the reopening of schools and has called on the government to ensure that the wellbeing of students and teachers is not endangered “capriciously” as a result of new circumstances and government inaction.

The PN was reacting to the government’s decision to reopen schools as scheduled on Thursday, despite the spike in Covid-19 cases.

It said the declaration by the Malta Union of Teachers that the government is ignoring health advices is of concern, particularly in the context of the record number of cases registered on Wednesday, the rise in cases as a result of mixing of households during the festive period, as pointed out by the other teachers’ union, the UPE, the fact that not all vulnerable people and healthcare workers will have been vaccinated by May and the new variant of the virus.

PN education spokesperson Clyde Puli appealed for caution and responsibility, as well as transparent and honest dialogue, so that solutions that safeguard the wellbeing of students, teachers and parents are found. Hard-headedness and arrogance is not the way forward, the PN said.