Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/281887
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 23 MARCH 2014 3 Drama studies teacher had temporary warrant CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Tanti, who was pursuing a theatre studies degree at the University of Malta until 2013, had been a drama tutor for the Masquerade theatre company since 2012, according to his Facebook status. But he recently was drafted in as a supply teacher at the St Michael's Foundation, a private school, hav- ing worked there for the past three months. Although questions have been raised about the school's vetting of the unqualified teacher, Tanti had been cleared by the authorities for teaching duties. MaltaToday has established that Tanti had passed a police check and was granted a temporary teacher's warrant as a supply drama teacher. Education Minister Evarist Bar- tolo said that it was the school's re- sponsibility to ensure that Tanti had a teacher's warrant or to establish whether he was fit to teach. Even Dr Mario Caruana, the chair- man of the Council for the Teaching Profession, told MaltaToday that he was not ruling out "the possibility of an investigation" into Tanti and his employment at the school. "The council is bound by law to investigate any complaints of negli- gence or breach of ethics by Tanti," Caruana said, underlining however that any investigation at this point would be premature, as the council would have to wait until all police and judicial proceedings are finalised. Since the extent of Tanti's and Zah- ra's friendship is unclear, and whether it was confined outside school limits, it is unclear as to whether the Coun- cil will be able to sanction Tanti over any ethical breach or misconduct as a teacher. "We cannot rule out anything. If we receive a complaint, then we are bound by law to investigate. "Upon substantiating the evidence and completing the investigation, we recommend the finds to the minister of education. "Any complaints of negligence or breach of ethics would be investigat- ed but these are strictly confidential," he said. The teachers' code of ethics, estab- lished by the Council for the Teach- ing Profession, says teachers are duty- bound and responsible to maintain a professional distance while in school and out of school. It also calls on teachers to avoid any inappropriate communication and relationships with students. Moreo- ver, teachers are bound to 'have re- gard to the safety of students under their responsibility'. MaltaToday also contacted St Michael's Foundation, but a repre- sentative of the private school refused to comment. "We would not like to comment, thanks." A police spokesperson said that a magisterial inquiry is underway and the police are not in a position to di- vulge information. The funeral of 15-year-old Lisa Maria Zahra, which was expected to be held Saturday in Valletta, was postponed on a magistrate's order. The court decided to postpone the funeral to ensure that all investiga- tions are concluded before her burial. The Zahra family claims that Tanti drove her to Dingli, and have been emphatic about the teacher's negli- gence of his duties towards the vul- nerable teenager. "The cruel reality is that Lisa Maria Zahra was a vulnerable minor at the age of 15, and Erin Tanti is a 23-year- old teacher with the relevant respon- sibilities that come with this role," the family said. "The tragic situation that developed after Tanti drove Lisa Maria to Dingli is one which is still subject to ongo- ing police investigations and pru- dence in any commentary, as well as the family's privacy in these difficult moments, should be respected at this time." Tanti was at the time performing in a Masquerade play 'Festen', based on the acclaimed film by Thomas Vinterberg. dmizzi@mediatoday.com.mt News Lisa Maria Zahra, 15 (pictured), died in the accident at Dingli cliffs. Police are still investigating the circumstances of the tragic fall Cabinet underwrote Enemalta over risk of aircraft crash CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 In the Cabinet memo, the follow- ing comment is noted: "Studies also show that the probability of an air- craft accident occurring in the final approach area is greater than at any other place during flight." The Department of Civil Aviation had then said that it "therefore al- ways maintained that development in this area should be discouraged, the risk to the LPG plant as a result of an aircraft impact could gave serious implications on a national scale." The revelation comes in the wake of a political controversy over the siting of the natural gas vessel next to the Delimara power station, in- side Marsaxlokk harbour. The correspondence and memo in 2006 continued: "Notwithstanding these concerns, the project is going to be proceeded with a number of measures." Among these measures, the min- ister at the time, Austin Gatt, said he would ensure that the plant is di- vided into as many protected com- partments as necessary to contain an explosive effect. Another consideration was an early warning system that would inform Malta International Airport of an impending accident. The minister said that the system would be created in such a way so that the blast would be directed horizontally, and not projected ver- tically into the air. Furthermore, the Cabinet in- structed the minister to seek an insurance cover for Enemalta and confirmed that government would underwrite Enemalta against any risk and damages to third parties that may arise from operations by Enemalta. Ironically in 1987, the department of civil aviation had objected to the siting of the new power station at Bengħisa because of conflicts with the flight path. Then prime min- ister Eddie Fenech Adami had ar- gued that he could ignore the civil aviation's concerns, and went for the Delimara site instead of the dis- used quarry at Bengħisa. Extracts from Cabinet minutes held on 16 January, 2006 outlining the decision to underwrite Enemalta Supply teacher had passed police check