Guardian Angel Resource Centre to get new management after fact-finding report
The management of the Guardian Angel Resource Centre will be replaced following the conclusion of a fact finding report that was ordered by the Education Ministry.
An article published by The Malta Independent in February had highlighted that parents of students attending Resource Centre had raised concerns about the resources available and the situation there.
The Education Ministry said that in December 2022, an exercise focused on leadership and management at the centre took place. “In this exercise, members of the Senior Leadership Team, educators, LSEs and professionals who visit schools were involved. A questionnaire was also carried out with all interested parties.” The report based on that, it said, had included actions and recommendations to improve things for the beneficiaries - educators, LSEs and students who attend. It said that a number of recommendations had been implemented.
Then, last January, the Minister had appointed a Fact Finding Board, which has now presented its report, it said.
“The recommendations deal with immediate change needed in all the leadership of the Centre. A recommendation was also made to, where possible, use a different mechanism as to how workers who are relatives are allocated.” An adjustment in student to staff ratios was also recommended, as was to intensify the amount of training for all educators working at this centre.
“This should also include team building sessions and interventions from other professionals as needed. Another recommendation regards streamlining, when it comes to the initial assessment of students and the building of a holistic profile for each student. The last recommendation regards better reporting by the management of the centre to one line manager.
The Ministry said that from 29 April, the centre will have new management. The new management will prioritise taking the needed steps as per the recommendations that were made, it said.
The Ministry also said that it will take decisions so that a number of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), policies and mechanisms can be modified as according to the Fact Finding Board recommendations.
The PN, in a statement, said that after pressure made on the Government, it was now constrained to issue a statement regarding the fact finding report, but noted that it wasn’t published.
“Today the Government announced that the whole administration of the Centre will change.”
The PN stressed that the Education Ministry must ensure that the centre is able to care for the children’s needs and have enough human resources to offer the best service for the children to advance in their education.
The PN welcomed the news that children who did not continue attending the centre were given an alternative programme adapted to their requirements.