Disability rights group mulling court action over Wardija Resource Centre

A disability rights group has filed a judicial protest about the future of the Wardija Resource Centre, as the school will not admit students next scholastic year.

The Movement in Favour of Rights for Persons with Disability (MFRPD) filed the judicial protest last week after the school was omitted from a list of specialised support recommendations for children for the next scholastic year.

The omission raised concerns among parents and advocates, given the centre’s role as Malta’s only state resource facility catering specifically for students with a disability aged 16 to 22.

The alternative service being offered instead of the Wardija Learning Centre is a new Life Map programme at Pembroke. This is more of a therapeutical service than an educational one, meaning the change will leave people with disabilities with restricted choices to continue their education beyond compulsory schooling.

MFRPD filed the judicial protest after sending a legal letter to the Education Ministry on the matter. The organisation told MaltaToday it will consider further court action if Wardija ends up being closed or phased out.

The dispute forms part of a wider, long-running concern over the lack of a clear pathway for students with disabilities after compulsory schooling. Over the past year, parents have repeatedly voiced uncertainty about what options are available once their children turn 16. Some parents were unsure whether their children would even be accepted into Wardija.

Many children with intellectual disabilities begin in mainstream schools supported by learning support educators, but gaps in resources and trained staff often lead to their eventual transfer to specialised centres.

Once students reach the end of compulsory education, those who wish to continue with their schooling face restricted choices. MCAST offers certain courses but students would typically require a level of independence that not all students can meet. The Wardija Resource Centre offered an alternative route for those beyond age 16 to continue their education in a more supportive environment.

The new Life Map programme was initially presented by the government as an additional option rather than a replacement, with a new campus in Pembroke intended to broaden services for students with disabilities.

However, concerns intensified after the Union of Professional Educators warned of plans to phase out Wardija.

Despite assurances that the centre would remain open, its exclusion from application forms for the coming scholastic year deepened the uncertainty.

In comments to MaltaToday, the Education Ministry said the Wardija Resource Centre will not be closing but confirmed that new students will be directed to the Lifemap service. 

"This ensures that, contrary to the past, all students will have the opportunity to continue their educational experience," a spokesperson said. "The ministry remains committed to strengthening inclusive education and ensuring that all students receive the support they require in the most appropriate settings."