The parent of a special needs student has criticised the Ministry of Education’s potentially “catastrophic” move to reassign his teacher elsewhere without notice.

Shlomo Yeshurun warned that the abrupt decision to remove Khadijah Ming from Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy could have a grave impact on his 8-year-old son, who has severe medical, physical and mental needs, as well as his four classmates.

“All the parents are greatly concerned. Our children have to build a critical level of trust in a predictable environment in order to make progress,” said the St David’s resident, who did not wish his child to be named in the newspaper. “This sudden disconnection could cause my son to regress.”

Chezia Calloway, the Ministry’s assistant director of student services, sent parents a letter on Friday evening informing them that Ms Ming had been “selected for an opportunity to meet a critical need with the system”, based on her experience and training in working with autistic students.

The letter added that Ms Ming’s replacement would start at the Devonshire special needs school on Monday.

She wrote: “Although we anticipate that there may be some adjustments needed for this change, I am confident that the school team will work collaboratively to ensure a smooth transition for all students, staff and parents, and to address all programming needs.” Mr Yeshurun chastised the Ministry both for failing to consult parents on the move and for replacing Ms Ming, who this month completed a new training class in autism, with an unqualified substitute teacher.

“This decision was made without any dialogue with us. The acting principal told us that she had asked for a longer transitional period, and she was rejected,” he said.

Although Mr Yeshurun’s son cannot walk and has a cognitive age of 3 to 4, he weighs 79 pounds and is “as solid as a rock” — which can prove hazardous to others given his propensity to spin around.

“Ms Ming found a technique of massaging his feet to bring him to a calmness, and he made beautiful progress,” Mr Yeshurun said.

“That’s how in-tune and awesome she is as a teacher. The new temporary teacher is of a senior age and is retiring in two months. At a PTA meeting on Monday night, she admitted that she could not handle my son, who is immensely strong, and has no experience in that area.

“It was quite alarming. The new teacher is likely to be at very high risk of physical injury to herself and to her students.”

Mr Yeshurun recommended that the ministry should take its time to find the best possible person for the teaching job, even if it means looking to hire someone from abroad.

He also suggested that in the meantime Ms Ming split her time between the Academy and her new school, which is believed to be very close by.

“It is my hope that the ministry can reconsider and bring an expedient resolution to this very urgent matter,” Mr Yeshurun said.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Education declined to comment on the issue.