Arts education schools will remain closed until further notice, the Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA) confirmed in a statement on Thursday afternoon.

The statement was released on MEIA’s Facebook page, following the MEIA’s meeting with Minister for Education Justyne Caruana and Superintendent of Public Health Charmaine Gauci this morning.

One to one students’ tuition, both in schools and privately, is also unable to open for the time being.

Arts education taught in academic schools, however, will continue to take place, as it is part of students’ academic curriculum.  

“The specific needs of Arts Education are currently being communicated between MEIA, DPH & Ministry of Education, so we can have a safe & staggered re-opening”, the MEIA said in its statement.

Upon being contacted by this newsroom, President of the MEIA Howard Keith Debono confirmed that the main reason why art schools must remain closed is so that students are excluded from external bubbles.

“Students, after hours would have arts education, and the health authorities can’t afford the risk of external bubbles mixing for now”, Debono said. “Once there are no risks, these schools will be re-opened”.

During the meeting, the health authorities also clarified that arts education does not pose a high-risk to students’ health.

While no estimated dates have been provided for when arts education schools will re-open their doors, Debono said that he doesn’t presume it will be too long, and will certainly happen before tourists make their way to Malta at the beginning of June.

Last Tuesday, Debono told The Malta Independent that the government needed to devise a “solid plan” for reopening arts education schools in Malta and ensuring that students, staff and parents are not kept in the dark about the future of arts education.

Debono confirmed that the MEIA is determined to pursue the opening of arts education schools in a manner that will work for both the health authorities and the Minister of Education.