The Malta Union of Teachers has issued a number of directives to serve as guidelines for educators in various situations.

Discussions are underway to find acceptable solutions, but the union felt the need to issue these directives to guide teachers in different situations, particularly on health and safety and education issues.

Teachers can exit the classroom if someone in class refuses to wear a mask or visor. They can also refuse to allow entry to students before they wear their mask or visor.

In cases where cleanliness in the classroom is below the required standard, teachers are being told to not use these areas.

If someone in class falls ill, teachers are being told not to replace staff members before the classrooms are sanitised as per health guidelines.

They should also refuse to enter the school grounds before their temperature is taken, and if sanitiser is not available.

If social distancing is not being adhered to, they should go out of the classroom and report to the school authorities.

If teachers deliver their lectures at school, they cannot be asked to start the day anew with students learning online.

Until acceptable parameters are set, teachers are not to record their lectures.

Teachers should also refuse to live stream lessons that are being given physically in the classroom.

LSEs should not act as replacement teachers or supervise half a classroom while the other half is receiving a lecture. This is not within their remit.

Discussions about what LSEs should do if their students do not physically attend school are ongoing. For this reason, LSEs should only support students in the classroom and not perform any online work until these discussions are concluded.

Educators, including teachers and KGEs, are not obliged to provide a so-called ‘forecast’ or ‘scheme of work’ to parents. This was never part of any agreement and the authorities should not introduce any new practices with the excuse that the country is going through extraordinary circumstances.

Lastly, educators cannot be expected to perform any work, such as send learning material to students when they are on sick leave. While this should be done in the case of quarantine leave, sick leave remains what it always was.

The MUT said that these directives are in no way aimed at negatively impacting students, particularly vulnerable ones. The union said it believes that alternative methods should be found for these students to be reached without further burdening educators, who are already giving their maximum as required by their employer.