The Malta Union of Teachers has formally raised serious concerns with Education Minister Clifton Grima over the decision to keep schools open despite national warnings for the public to remain indoors due to severe weather conditions.

In an email sent on Monday, MUT president Marco Bonnici said that educators were concerned that while public service employees are being allowed to work remotely, schools are still operating as normal, placing both students and teachers at risk during early-morning commuting.

Bonnici said that decisions should be guided first and foremost by health and safety considerations, and not by the economic implications of closing schools for a day.

“The MUT is concerned about the situation and is expecting that the safety of students and educators comes first,” he wrote, warning that national authorities, including educational authorities, would ultimately be responsible for any consequences arising from the decisions taken.

The union said that the risks associated with travel in extreme weather conditions should not be underestimated and called for responsible decision-making that reflects the reality faced by school communities.