A teacher 's job is never finished; it is a 24-hour job! A teacher is presented with the curriculum and it is up to her to fulfill that curriculum. She needs to plan a scheme of work where the curriculum is organized and split into the various months.

She needs to prepare lesson plans for all subjects taught while catering for different learning needs in the classroom. She needs to evaluate learning and assess improvement. She needs to provide a stimulating environment and create charts, and resources to teach with.

Many of these resources are bought out of her own money. In the classroom the teacher conducts the lesson and assesses it, all the planning has been done after hours or at home. Most homework, tests and shcool work will be taken home to be graded and assessed.

So, maybe teachers should be paid by the hour, as that way you need to multiply their salary by three or four, and in addition refund them for any resources bought out of their own money. Mr Debono, unless you have the data, and unless you have experienced working as a teacher yourself, please do not comment.

Regarding tutoring children in their garages, that proves that teachers' salaries need to be increased as they are not making ends meet. If a teacher depends on tutoring money to survive there is something wrong in the system don't you think?

You expect a professional with a University Degree to be able to survive on her income and not rely on additional income! Also, Mr Debono needs to remember that if the teacher's conditions are improved that also translates in the students' conditions as they share the same environment and they depend on the teacher's style and teaching method.

Therefore our children are the ultimate winners as they will be rewarded with better conditions and a teacher that is much more prepared, more rested and able to provide them with better resources. Also remember that the doctors and health care workers of tomorrow are today in our teachers ' classrooms and they need that teacher for them to become what they want to become!

Keep up the great work Maltese teachers, and don't let comments like these get to you; you are very passionate about what you do and you and your students deserve the best !!

Lorraine Spiteri-Scerri

Brampton

Canada