Maltese teacher Sandra Gauci took to social media to raise her concerns at the fact that teachers cannot close class windows due to COVID restrictions – a measure which is having physical damaging effects. Gauci, who is also an ADPD candidate, posted to Facebook a photo of her own fingers which have been impacted with chilblains (locally known as seqi). Chilblains is a medical condition characterised by vessel damage in the skin of the hands and feet and is made worse by cold temperatures. 

Gauci appealed to the government to listen to her plea and all those in the classroom suffering the consequences as they have prolonged hours in such conditions.Her post also appealed to parents to make sure their children are dressed up with enough clothes to combat the cold weather. 

The teacher said that sometimes, the cold does not even allow her to think clearly, comparing the classrooms to those of Charles Dickens – a nod to rundown school conditions in the author’s writings such as Oliver Twist. She concluded by asking for more power to be granted to school heads so that they can do what needs to be done and not await orders. The post was widely shared, calling for some sort of action to be taken. 

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Photo Source: Sandra Gauci FB