Government investigating three-year-old boy's 'escape' from Skola Sajf

Government today said it has ordered an investigation over an incident in which a three-year-old boy walked out of a government run summer school in Fgura.

On Monday, the three-year-old who attends Skola Sajf was accompanied to a police station by a woman who came across the boy while he was wondering in the streets outside the school.

In a statement issued this evening, the education ministry said that on Monday it received a report by the Foundation for Educational Services of a boy who slipped out of the school after leaving the classroom to go to the toilet unaccompanied.

Instead of returning to the classroom the child exited the school, the ministry said, adding that the classroom teacher immediately flagged his disappearance with the school coordinator and some time later the boy was found in the vicinity of the school.

"The ministry is investigating the case and deems the incident as unacceptable, especially if, as suspected, the gates were open,” the statement said, adding that immediate action was taken to ensure that the main door and the gates are closed at all times and that children are not left unaccompanied in any circumstance while at school.

In its reaction, the opposition described the incident as “shocking” and called on government to ensure that schools are safe.

“Children, and parents, deserved better,” opposition MP Joe Cassar said, adding that parents must be reassured of their children’s safety.

“Unfortunately, this case was the result of bad administration which had marred Skola Sajf from day one,” Cassar said in reference to the delay in opening Skolasajf at the beginning of summer since not enough teachers and staff were enrolled before the start of summer school.