13-year-old attacked by fellow student with sharp object in Gozo school
Education Ministry says students' safety 'remains a priority'; police investigation underway
Updated Friday 10.34am
A 13-year-old student was slightly injured after being attacked by a fellow student with “a sharp object” at the Gozo secondary school in Victoria on Thursday.
Sources told Times of Malta that the victim suffered “a scratch” and no ambulance was needed.
A police report was filed about the incident and investigations are underway.
The Education Ministry confirmed the incident saying that school authorities “intervened immediately to ensure that the situation was brought under control and that the safety of all students was safeguarded.”
The ministry insisted the “health and safety of children and young people within the educational environment has always been, remains, and will continue to be an absolutely priority”.
An Advisory Board, chaired by ministry director general Ritienne Borg Saliba, was appointed in December to provide strategic and operational recommendations to the ministry regarding a behaviour management framework.
The seven-person board was established after a14-year old boy was charged with stabbing a student his age in the yard of St Clare College in Pembroke.
Days later, a 14-year-old girl was hospitalised after another pupil broke her nose in a school fight at St Nicholas College in Dingli.
'Urgent need to evaluate school safety'
In a statement Friday morning, PN-affiliated student organisation Studenti Demokristjani Maltin (SDM) condemned the incident while highlighting the "recent serious incidents in secondary schools involving weapons", pointing to last month's incident in Pembroke.
"These events highlight the urgent need for a careful evaluation of school safety alongside stronger prevention, early intervention, and student support systems", the organisation said.
SDM said there had been a "lack of timely and clear information from the authorities, which only adds to the anxiety of parents and school communities", while expressing solidarity with those affected by the recent incidents.
"Parents, students, and educators deserve reassurance, transparency, and decisive action to protect the wellbeing of all", the organisation said. "Our schools must be safe and supportive environments where students can learn without fear."