The Labour Party in government has started using state schools for its political activities on Sunday as the European Parliament elections approach, causing concern among educators and parents who spoke to The Shift.
Two weeks ago, Labour moved a Sunday morning activity from a political party club, where such events are usually held, to the hall of St Benedict College in Kirkop – a public school.
The Shift is informed that school administrators accepted, despite reservations, because they feared repercussions.
“Can the head of school effectively say no to his employer?” one source asked.
The comment echoed others from parents who expressed concern about organising a partisan activity inside the school’s premises. They said it could create political friction among students, teachers and parents.
Such activities require days of preparation, including the school hall being taken over by activists who prepare for the event.
Sources told The Shift, “Having political activists working inside the school and putting up backdrops and party emblems for a whole week while mixing with students and staff is not ideal.”
They also said it was unfair to pressure a state school’s principal to grant permission.
Another PL activity is slated to be held at the Qawra primary school.
The Labour Party paid only €394 for the use of the Kirkop school hall, according to information submitted in parliament in reply to questions by PN MP Justin Schembri.
This Sunday, the hall of Maria Regina College in Qawra will also host a Labour Party event for Prime Minister Robert Abela.
Evidently Robert Abela and the sorry excuse of the “Labour” Party, have no inkling about the difference between the State and the political party in government.
I expect that the Opposition will issue a press release declaring that it will file a motion in parliament so that no State asset is used for the activities of political parties, and if defeated will file it again once the Opposition is returned in Office.
On a separate note it appears that no “commercial sensitivity” hollow excuse was invoked to disclose that one can rent a school hall for under 400 euros – good to know!
“Can the head of school effectively say no to his employer?” Pathetic. Of course you can. You only need a spine. What an example this educator is giving his students. And then, the Labour Party is not your employer.
Disgusting and probably unconstitutional.
Remember the days of Mintoff when he and his party setup the brigade. Young children dressed in red and white?
Yes, you can say no but needs a spine to do so.
It seems that Aladdin and the 40 thieves have invested all the monies and are left with nothing!!!!!!!!!! Joseph can help with a tent!!
Parents shouldn’t send their children to school until all traces of political activity are removed.
Children should not be exposed to even indirect political brainwashing!
But they still manage to brain wash the sheep and the sheep don’t have brains ?
One regularly comes across stories such as this that are of national importance and yet don’t seem to be found in the mainstream independent press which is, by and large, better resourced. Is this a reflection of the desperate need for government advertising revenue?
Maybe they are getting used to having their meetings at schools because that’s where the next parliament will be?
I remember this was a common occurrence when I was a kid in the 80s for hosting children’s’ Christmas parties. While the PN parties for kids were organized in a volunteer’s garage, the MLP ones were organized in the theater halls of primary schools.
There was no distinction between political party and government. Forty years have passed and Malta is still a banana republic. People are more well-off, but the mindset of the Maltese is still that of 40-50-60 years ago and will always be the mindset of a third world country.