The Malta Union of Teachers is warning that it could issue industrial action if its requests regarding a Great Siege Anniversary project are not met.

In a statement, the MUT said met its members who teach drama, art and music, it results that difficulties have arisen because of a serious lack of coordination between Directorates within the same Ministry.

The MUT wrote to the DG DQSE in relation to peripatetic teachers who are being removed from class to organise activities. The union stated that while it has no objections if the Directorates want to organise a show for the Great Siege Anniversary, the union can never agree that primary school teachers are treated as second class citizens and their rights are not respected, not to mention the hundreds of students that are currently being denied lessons in performing arts.

On grounds of breach of agreement, the union stated that it is therefore registering a trade dispute with the government.

In a reply, the DG explained that he is in the process of acquiring more information related to any impact that the involvement of specific peripatetic teachers in the celebrations related to the Great Siege anniversary may have had on service provision in schools. He concluded that he will follow up and communicate back.

In its statement today, the MUT said this activity was being planned prior to the summer months and involves a large number of children and schools. Despite this, and despite the Directorate knowing very well how much people are involved and the consequences, still it did not provide backups in schools to make up for this project.

This means that, although educational authorities knew that this project could potentially result in a breach of the Sectoral Agreement, they showed utter lack of coordination and also a lack of respect towards teachers, both in Primary Schools and those involved in this project.

The MUT, therefore, is directing all its members who are involved in this project to continue with this project. At the same time, the union is advising the government that if by Monday the primary schools issue is not resolved in the context of the agreement, the union will order industrial directives in schools. Meanwhile the union is appealing to the Ministry to investigate who is responsible for this fiasco and take all the necessary steps.