Malta Union of Teachers President Marco Bonnici has said that he has serious doubts whether the proposal to introduce free transport for all students, which also covers independent and church schools, will be implemented this year.

Speaking to The Malta Independent in an interview, Bonnici said that the information the union has is that while there was certainly plenty of interest in the scheme at the start of summer, it appears to have cooled down.

Both the Labour Party and the Nationalist Party had included the initiative within their electoral manifestos in the last general election. Both parties believed that the scheme would have a significant positive effect on morning traffic, however it was only the Labour Party that provided some indication of what the scheme would cost.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had told a press conference on 29 May that the initiative, along with the increase in children's allowance, would cost a total of €21 million.

Bonnici added that while the union is in favour of the proposal in principle, it is insistent that supervision on every bus or van also be provided to ensure the safety of students. 

In the interview, Bonnici also speaks about the shortage of teachers and insist that teachers should be given a salary that reflects their profession.

Full interview will be uploaded later