Renouncing parents' day criticised

The Labour Party's education spokesman, Camelo Abela yesterday criticised the Education Ministry for ordering schools to forego the November afternoon Parents' Day, saying this contradicted the minister's stated aim of wanting schools to be more autonomous.

However, the Education Division immediately issued a statement assuming full responsibility for the decision, highlighting that it was not the ministry which ordered the suspension of the November Parents' Day.

Mr Abela said the division's operations director had told heads of schools in a meeting not to organise the half day in November. He claimed that such a decision came from the ministry.

In its reply, the division said the decision was taken in order for children not to lose time in class, adding that this does not bar parents from meeting the schools' authorities as the need arises.

As for the question of the schools' autonomy, the division said it was duty bound to guide state schools.