Updated 2.39pm

Archbishop Charles Scicluna has offered to mediate in a dispute between St Albert the Great College and the Malta Union of Teachers after college headmaster Mario Mallia was sacked.

"The archbishop is willing to mediate between the parties if they are willing to discuss and negotiate," a Curia spokesperson said.

The offer came hours after staff had urged the archbishop to intervene and educators, parents, and students protested outside the college in Valletta. The MUT also directed staff not to communicate with the college rector.

Mallia had been headmaster of the college for 16 years. He said he was fired  after standing by two inclusivity programmes for students of different genders and beliefs at the school, which is run by the Dominican Order.  

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The Curia late on Tuesday issued a statement by the Church Schools Association saying that notwithstanding the reasons for the dismissal, it wished to acknowledge Mallia’s "valid contribution to the educational inclusion of disadvantaged students and of students from different backgrounds, saying he had always been looking for ways to improve the position of those less fortunate.  

The college on Wednesday said Mallia had been sacked because he refused to abide by the statute regulating the college and took decisions without obtaining approval for them from the college’s board.

Protest outside college

Standing with a crowd of around 100 students, educators and members of the public, MUT president Marco Bonnici said the union and its members condemned the “draconian tactics” adopted by school rector Fr Aaron Zahra. 

“We have completely lost confidence in the board and the rector and will not work with them. They are no longer fit for purpose and must resign,” Bonnici said to applause.

“The MUT stands with Mallia, a truly respected educator," he added.

Bonnici said Mallia did not work alone, but had a whole team behind him, who worked hard to push the right values at the school. 

“It is very clear that the most senior person at this college did not agree with his (Mallia's) work and believes that, by removing him, what he has achieved will also be removed - this is far from the reality.”

Bonnici said MUT was declaring a trade dispute with both the Dominican Order in Malta and the Secretariat for Catholic Education.

'Oppression and intimidation among staff'

Bonnici told the emotional crowd (some of the people could be seen holding back tears) that the rector’s oppression did not stop with Mallia. 

“When they found out that members of staff and parents will be gathering here to protest, the same rector, through his pseudo-board, sent three legal letters to staff members to intimidate them and to stop the initiative from taking place," he said.

“So we will be issuing directives to protect the people at this school. The school has gained the reputation of being a leading educational institution, and it deserves to have a strong educational leadership and a forward-looking vision.”

Bonnici asked what message sacking Mallia was sending students.

“We dedicate so much time to teach students about respect, justice, and inclusion, why are we turning back the clock hundreds of years?” 

Bonnici said MUT will be holding the board and the rector responsible for any damage done to the students’ education. 

He also asked who will be running the school in the next scholastic year. 

“The rector doesn’t even have a teaching warrant,” he said to more cheers and applause. 

Bonnici asked who is behind "this pseudo-board" which the rector "appointed himself head of".

He also presented an open letter from staff calling for the immediate reinstatement of Mallia as headmaster, with all his powers reinstated.

Staff also called for a meeting with the provincial of the Maltese Dominican Province, Vince Mallia, to discuss the matter, and called on members of the order to speak up against any injustice.

“We also appeal to the Archbishop, Charles J Scicluna, to act as a mediator in this situation, a situation that is disturbing his flock,” they said.

MUT Directive

The MUT later issued a directive instructing all college staff  to refrain from communicating with the rector or any members of the board.  

The Department for Inclusion and Access to Learning at the University of Malta also publicly backed Mallia, saying in a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon that he should be reinstated following his "outrageous" dismissal. 

"Mr Mallia has cultivated a school culture that is inclusive, democratic and respectful. He successfully created an educational community which is actively committed to promote the principles of social justice and inclusion," department members wrote. 

Sacking has nothing to do with Mallia's beliefs - Dominican Order 

But the Dominican Order has said the decision to dismiss Mallia had nothing to do with “his beliefs of inclusion and interfaith implemented at the College”.

Writing on behalf of the Order, Philip Magri said the Dominican Order had “taken offence” at the impression that it is against inclusion policies. 

"As evident from the final warning issued to the said Mario Mallia as well as his letter of dismissal (which you have presumably viewed ahead of publishing your article), the final decision taken by the college's board has absolutely nothing to do with his beliefs of inclusion and interfaith implemented at the college," he said.

Magri said the crucial problem was the fact that Mallia operated without obtaining the required approval and consent from the board before implementing changes which affected or could affect the college's finances or the running of the college as a church and state- funded school.

He said the board would be informed about Mallia's decisions from third parties or following complaints by teachers.

Mallia also refused to recognise the superior authority of the board, Magri said.

He said the board has always had at heart policies aimed at improving the lives of its students, families and educators and included inclusivity and eco-friendly policies which it had embraced and would continue to embrace in years to come.