Instead of understanding the inclusivity initiatives undertaken by administration at the St Albert the Great College, an individual from the Curia filed a complaint about them which led to the school board putting them to a stop, the school’s now former headmaster Mario Mallia told The Malta Independent after he was sacked by the school.

Mallia was dismissed as the headmaster the Church-run St Albert the Great College in Valletta on Monday, having held the post for 16 years.

Speaking to The Malta Independent, Mallia said that there were several reasons indicated in his dismissal letter.

“One of the hallmarks of the college’s ethos, which springs from the Christian ethos, is inclusivity. The school decided to provide a space in the curriculum, which was named MEET, two years ago with the aim of promoting a culture of inclusivity, something which should be done everywhere, seeing all the racism and hate speech around us,” Mallia explained.

Another initiative was a cooperative one which included a registered number of staff, named ‘This is COOP’, the aim of which was to provide a cooperative model in the educational context.

“What we preach is what we were doing, to set an example for the students,” he said. Mallia said that this initiative also aimed to provide employment opportunities within the school itself for people with disabilities, such as in the canteen.

Mallia said that the board and the rector said that they were unaware of the initiatives, despite these having been discussed and practised for two years in the school, with all parents and staff knowing about it.

Mallia said that the board and the rector were simply not open to discussions. He also said that someone from the Curia had made a complaint about the initiatives, which reached the board, and consequently, the board decided to stop the initiatives.

“Instead of coming to the school and looking at what we were doing, a complaint was made,” Mallia said.

Another reason given for the halting of the initiatives was due to an apparent risk of the school facing any liabilities, which Mallia dismissed as to have these initiatives one must have appropriate accounts in order and be “very stringent” about it. He said that these initiatives were done voluntarily by the school’s staff, working after school hours and organizing fundraising.

Mallia was also accused of usurping the school without the knowledge of the school board for it to be used as a polling station for the country’s elections.

He said that the electoral commission had contacted the school some years back to use the building as a polling station to facilitate voting for elderly residents in the northern part of Valletta, as it had become a struggle for them to commute to Fort St. Elmo.

Mallia said that he was accused of usurping the school as if it were his property, despite having spoken with the provincial and the rector of the time four elections ago. He said that besides the school providing an outlet to further help the community, the school was involved in the democratic process which enabled children to actively participate in democracy.

Mallia said that his dismissal letter also alleged insubordination, which he believes was for the reason that him and his staff made their voices heard respectfully by means of dialogue, bringing forth the notion that there must be a representative of the staff in the school board, so that the roles of the board are clearer and more efficient.

Mallia was given a warning letter at the beginning of July, which followed with a dismissal letter only yesterday. One of the reasons in the initial warning letter which he received was also that the board felt uncomfortable with Mallia’s involvement in politics, despite the Dominican Order – which runs the school – having known of this before he was hired and decided to take him on board.

Mallia has been active in politics or a number of years with Alternattiva Demokratika besides working at the school. He served as a local councillor representing AD on the Birkirkara local council between 2003 and 2006 and was a candidate for the party in a number of general elections.

He currently serves as ADPD’s Deputy Chairperson and is the party’s spokesperson on education.

Asked about the feelings induced by this dismissal, Mallia said that he feels sorrowful, because a sense of community had been built in the school. He said that there was a culture of encounter, and respect from the children’s parents, which he is sad to leave behind.

The school rector Fr. Aaron Zahra has informed parents and staff that he will be assuming the role of acting head until another person suitable for the role is found, he said.

The school will also be split into two with two separate headmasters.