Bureaucracy stopping children from enrolling in school – AD

Getting hold of electronic ID cards is becoming a nightmare for the expatriate community in Malta, Alternattiva Demokratika said.

The delay in issuing electronic ID cards is creating problems for parents who enroll their children in public and private schools, the Greens said.

The Green Party's spokesperson on education Mario Mallia said: "People have been waiting for over six months to get an appointment for the issuing of their Maltese electronic ID card.  Now, Maltese government schools - and even schools like the Verdala School -  are not accepting enrolment of expatriate children in Maltese schools if the parents are not in possession of the electronic ID.  This is totally unacceptable and goes against the basic right to schooling of children."

On his part, AD chairperson Arnold Cassola said: "Eight months ago, when expatriate children were prevented from attending school in Malta, the then opposition spokesperson Evarist Bartolo had said: 'I am sure that they were not going to put our system in a crisis. Why allow rigid bureaucratic regulations to come before children?' He added, that given that Malta has been a member of the EU for more than eight years, "we should become less insular in our mindsets, policies and decisions."

"Evarist Bartolo, now education Minister, should ensure that he puts his actions where his mouth is," Cassola added.