A 14-year-old boy was taken to hospital after he was allegedly stabbed by a fellow student at St Clare's College in Pembroke, the police said.

The episode occurred just before school lessons started at 7.45am when a dispute between the two fourth-form students, both of them Libyans, allegedly escalated unexpectedly in one of the school yards.

Police are currently interviewing the student believed to be responsible, with a legal guardian present. The injured boy is in stable condition in hospital.

School administrators notified parents soon after the incident took place, prompting many to arrive on campus shortly afterwards. School lessons continued as normal once the situation had been brought under control.

In a statement on Facebook, Education Minister Clifton Grima said the two students involved are foreigners, with one of them being taken to hospital to be treated for injuries sustained by a pointed instrument.

He said the ministry has taken steps so that the Victim Support Agency gives support to students and educators who witnessed the incident. He said the school administration is helping the police in their investigations.

A police spokesperson on site told the press that the police were informed at 7.45am that there was an argument between two foreign students, both 14-year-old boys. The spokesperson said both boys were from Libya and had been living in Malta since they were three years old.

A knife that was allegedly used was found, the spokesperson said.  The victim is recovering at Mater Dei Hospital and is in stable condition, he said, adding that the alleged aggressor had been stopped by the school authorities immediately and is being held by the police. He is being spoken to in the presence of his parents and social workers, the spokesperson added.

A magisterial inquiry is being led by Magistrate Philip Galea Farrugia, and investigations are ongoing to establish, among other things, the cause of the argument.

The spokesperson appealed for caution given that the all the students are minors. The spokesperson said, after everything calmed down, lessons continued as normal and that the area where the incident took place has been isolated. The spokesperson said everything is under control and there is no need for parents to pick up their children from the school. 

In a statement, the Malta Union of Teachers said it has contacted the Education Ministry and the school and is following closely the case "to protect educators and students".  Requests for support were made to the Education Ministry, the MUT said.

The MUT stands with all educators and students at the school, the union said. 

PN MP Justin Schembri, who is the party's spokesperson for education, posted on social media: "I have absolute trust in the school and college, that they will treat this case with the utmost seriousness."

In a statement, the Nationalist expressed its regret at what took place at St Clare College Pembroke

While the PN said it has full confidence in the school's leadership and in the ongoing investigation, it expressed its concern about this case, which further highlights the importance of discipline in schools - an aspect to which the PN said it has always given great importance.

Incidents like today's raise concern and call for stronger measures to ensure that teachers, educators, and students feel safer at school, and to prevent the holistic school environment from being undermined by unnecessary fear and insecurity, the PN said.

The PN said it understands that judicial proceedings will now begin. Therefore, it appeals for calm while urging the government to take all necessary steps and reassure parents, students, and educators about safety in our schools.

Public perception of schools in cases such as this can easily shift - and our educational system cannot be allowed to acquire a reputation for lack of safety, the PN said. The government therefore has a duty to act so that parents, students, and educators can have peace of mind regarding school safety and a secure educational environment, it concluded. 

In reaction to the PN statement, the Labour Party said that "the PN never misses an opportunity to be partisan, even in sensitive cases The Nationalist Party has become so entrenched in partisanship that it has even dragged an incident between two children into the political arena."

"While the Government has already ensured the necessary assistance in this case, it is worth noting that in our country, every day, thousands of educators provide a service to our children in a safe environment. An isolated case should not undermine the full trust that should exist in the authorities and all workers in the education sector," the PL said.

The union said it made contact with the authorities following this incident, saying it is offering all support to educators.

In a statement, the dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Malta, Colin Calleja, said the "shocking incident" has sent tremors through the entire education sector.

At this challenging moment, we must stand firmly in solidarity with the teachers, students, and families who have been directly and indirectly affected, he said.

The incident has inevitably placed extraordinary pressure on school staff and leadership. Teachers and administrators now face not only the emotional impact of the event but also the responsibility of reassuring families and safeguarding the school climate. They deserve our full support, not criticism, he wrote.

This incident, he added, must serve as a collective wake-up call. "Violence has no place in our schools, and every institution involved in the upbringing and protection of young people bears a shared responsibility: schools, families, authorities, and broader society."

Safety in education cannot be left to schools alone; it requires coordinated and systemic commitment, he said. As educators and as a community, we must now move forward with three priorities: healing for those directly affected, strengthened safeguards for students and staff, and renewed public trust that schools remain safe spaces for learning and growth. Rather than react with blame or division, this moment calls for unity, care, and decisive collaboration, he said.

Photo: TVM