Guidelines on the reopening of schools need to be issued immediately so that all schools in Malta can prepare effectively for the next academic year, the Independent Schools’ Association (ISA) said.

The education authorities kicked off a series of meetings with teachers on Monday to discuss the reopening of schools in just over a month.

Despite the increase in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, the government has repeatedly said it planned to reopen schools on September 28. Schools were shut for the rest of the scholastic year in March, when the first cases of coronavirus were first detected.

In a statement on Tuesday, the ISA said schools need guidelines to stipulate whether physical distancing is recommended in classrooms, how to handle school transport and any eventual clusters that emerge. If guidelines are not issued, schools could have to make their own decisions on how to proceed, it said. 

The ISA called on authorities to issue guidelines immediately to allow all stakeholders - from heads of schools to educators and parents - to take stock of the situation and plan accordingly. 

It thanked health and other frontline workers and said it remained committed to collaborate and engage in fruitful dialogue and discussion with the authorities in the best interest of all school children in Malta.