Minister for Education and Sport, Byron Camilleri, announced that, following Cabinet approval, students with a medical condition or physical disability who do not have learning difficulties will be given the opportunity to receive assistance from a medical professional during school hours who has undergone specialised training.

He explained that this will enable Learning Support Educators (LSEs) to focus more on their primary role and assist students with learning difficulties. This will apply when it is more beneficial for the student to receive assistance from a medical professional rather than an LSE.

“We need to ensure that LSE resources are used in the best possible way, while providing students with the resources and assistance they need. We are moving towards a more needs-based approach,” Minister Camilleri said.

He said that to date, very different difficulties and needs have been grouped together and addressed with the same solution. Some students have learning difficulties. Others have medical conditions, such as diabetes or an allergy, or a physical disability. At present, individuals with medical needs receive assistance from an LSE.

“The question we need to ask is: in cases involving medical needs only, who can best fulfil this role in the interests of children and students? A Learning Support Educator (LSE) or a medical professional?” Minister Camilleri asked.

The proposal is as follows:

Based on the student’s needs: where assistance from a medical professional would be more beneficial for the student, this service will be provided. Where assistance from an LSE would be more beneficial, the student will receive LSE support. New students: the change will apply only to students whose needs are identified from now onwards. Students already receiving LSE support: nothing will change overnight. However, families who feel their children could receive better-tailored support from a medical professional will be able to request this change. High standards: medical professionals will be recruited against rigorous requirements specifically designed for the education sector. They will also receive the training needed to ensure their service is tailored to the school environment.

In this way, students will be better served. LSEs will be able to focus more on their primary role as educators. Schools will also benefit from having more medical professionals on site, who can assist anyone who needs help until further assistance arrives.

The Minister stressed that this announcement ”will not reduce LSE recruitment in any way. Recruitment is an ongoing process: the Government recruits as many LSEs as are needed, provided that suitable candidates apply and are selected. The Government has also improved their working conditions. The sector currently employs the highest number of LSEs in its history.”

As this is a sensitive issue for many families, the Minister called for information about the changes to be reported accurately and in detail, so that parents are not concerned unnecessarily.

“This means that we are taking a decision that places our students’ needs at its centre, because this is how we provide our children with the best possible support in the classroom,” Minister Camilleri concluded.

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