Teachers’ union fears compulsory sick certificates could be ‘half-baked’

Teachers’ union MUT is suggesting that schools are provided with measures that can ensure that children who are sick at home, stay at home without compromising the health and safety of other children, using on-call doctors and nurses to visit schools.

The statement came in a reaction to social policy minister Michael Farrugia’s decision to make it compulsory for schoolchildren to present a medical certificate, even if they miss two days of school.

“The Union agrees in principle with the idea of introducing measures that reduce the current levels of absenteeism. However the MUT notes – as it has stated many times in relation to other initiatives – that such sudden decisions will not solve the problem unless they are accompanied by a proper structure,” president Kevin Bonello said.

“As things stand, and without such a structure, situations will be created whereby children are sent to school even if they are unwell in order for the parents to avoid the additional costs and hassle of procuring a medical certificate.

“The Union is therefore suggesting that schools are provided with measures that will ensure that children who are sick are kept at home for the health and safety of other children. This may include on call doctors or nurses who can visit the school if any of the schoolchildren is suspected to be unwell for any reason.”

Bonello said that the structure must also be accompanied by measures to safeguard schools against the “minority” of irresponsible parents who bring their children to school when sick, and then refuse to recollect them, in some cases even refusing to answer phone calls.

“In the past, in fact, the Union had to intervene in cases where parents sent their children to school when it was evident that they were suffering from various serious conditions such as measles, chicken pox and even scarlet fever. With this standalone measure, such occurrences are bound to increase.”