The Malta Union of Teachers had demanded tough action from the government over violence against teachers, warning that it will otherwise take action itself.

It issued the warning after several recent cases of violence at Naxxar boys' secondary school, where, it said, the situation had exceeded all limits.

It said that several cases had been reported where teachers’ cars were vandalised. Verbal abuse, with teachers being addressed in a vulgar manner, had become the order of the day.

Some days ago an assistant head was physically attacked by a parent and on Wednesday a student hit a teacher on her back with a wooden duster. On Thursday, another teacher needed treatment at a health centre after being hit on the face by another person. In all these cases, police reports were filed and people are expected to be arraigned in court.

The MUT said cases of violence were also being reported at various other schools.

It said it had long been appealing to the authorities to take up this issue seriously, and the latest reform plan included measures which were to be taken. The Ministry of Education also had a policy document on the subject. But nothing had happened yet.

The union warned that it was now fed up and unless the authorities adopted a zero tolerance policy, as was their responsibility, it would address the matter itself according to all means available to it at law.