SILC 13.07 Medical Certificates

							     MINISTERU TA' L-EDUKAZZJONI,                                 MINISTRY FOR EDUCATION, YOUTH
             AGĦA AGĦ U XOGĦOL                                    AND EMPLOYMENT
                 FLORIANA CMR02                                   FLORIANA CMR02
                           MALTA                                  MALTA

    STUDENT SERVICES AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
Tel: 25982141                                       Fax: 25982141
E-Mail: dssir.educ@gov.mt
                                           Letter Circular
Ref: SILC 13/07                                                                  Date: 22nd January 2007

To: All Heads of Junior Lyceums, Secondary Schools, (State)

Subject: Medical Certificates



1      The attention of Heads of School is drawn to the fact that a number of medical certificates for absence
       from school are inadequately drawn up.

2      Such certificates should be regarded as unacceptable, and the sudent’s/pupil’s absence should be
       regarded as uncertified. Heads are to treat them as such and take the usual necessary action.

3      Certificates to be considered ‘unacceptable’ include those which

       •      do not reveal the identity of the certifying doctor or those which bear only the bare initials of the
              doctor
       •      do not specify the expected duration of the illness
       •      certify that the student/pupil is ill according to the opinion of someone else, e.g. the opinion of the
              parents or that of another doctor or specialist

4      In cases of unacceptable certificates, Heads of School are to contact the school medical officer and
       discuss the case before taking any action.


5      In those cases where the presented medical certificate relates to a parent or the parent’s illness and the
       student is needed at home to take care of the sick parent, prior authorisation for temporary absence from
       school has to be obtained. Such authorisation is needed when the illness is of a long duration, that is
       when a number of weeks are involved. In the case of a temporary exemption for a few days, Heads of
       School are to use their discretion when granting such a permission

6      When the student/pupil certificate is ‘unacceptable’ but the condition mentioned in the certificate poses a
       risk to others, the student may still have to be excluded from school. All cases known or suspected to be
       such should be immediately discussed with the Education Medical Officer on telephone 21248819.




Dr. C. Borg
Director General of Education
in the absence of Director Student Services and International Relations