The Union of Professional Educators (UPE) has been informed by several educators, parents, and high-ranking public servants of an allegedly secretive plan, drawn up by the Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, Hon. Clifton Grima, and his Permanent Secretary, Matthew Vella, to phase out the Wardija Resource Centre. This follows an agreement with a private contractor for the new ‘Life Map’ programme.

On the first day of school, staff members were reportedly instructed to apply for redeployment when the exercise takes place in April/May 2026, so they can be transferred to other schools around Malta. The reason given is straightforward: the Wardija Resource Centre appears to be in its final phase of operation.

Staff have been made aware that for the scholastic year 2025/2026 and the following year, 2026/2027, no new students will be admitted to the Wardija Resource Centre. Instead, these students will be directed elsewhere.

A new educational pathway programme for young people with disabilities, called ‘Life Map’, was officially launched over the summer through a collaboration between the Government and the private sector. The initiative aims to support students with disabilities in continuing their education beyond secondary school.

Set to begin in September, the programme will be held in Pembroke. Meanwhile, the current setup at Dun Manwel Attard School in Wardija will continue to provide services until its alleged phasing out.

The programme was launched by Minister Clifton Grima and the Minister for Inclusion and Voluntarism, Julia Farrugia Portelli. However, a source close to the deal has indicated that the signatories are solely from the Ministry of Education.

We have been informed that the new programme will be run by non-Maltese nationals and that no educators will be transferred from Wardija to the facility in Pembroke.

Consequently, the dedicated staff at Wardija face redeployment under this new system approved by Hon. Grima, with no recognition given to the hard-working educators there.

Various questions arise from this new project:

• Will Maltese educators be working with each individual student?
• What qualifications does the personnel working in the programme possess?
• Was a public tender issued for this deal?
• If no public tender was issued, why was this particular private contractor chosen?
• How much is this deal costing the taxpayer?
• What is the actual reason for phasing out the Wardija Resource Centre?
• Is the Hon. Minister aware that parents may now have no choice in the matter?
• Is the Hon. Minister aware that several highly skilled educators in the field of disability will be lost to the system?

In the meantime, the UPE is assisting several educators from the school. If you have further queries, please feel free to contact us to discuss these worrying issues with a union that truly cares.