Malta Union of Teachers president John Bencini has insisted on the need to set up a Teachers’ Council, saying that this has been on the country’s agenda for a number of years but the issue has been shelved.

Speaking at the MUT biennial conference held yesterday, Mr Bencini recalled part of Education Minister Louis Galea’s speech at the union’s 2000 biennial conference, during which he said that he agreed with the idea of a Teachers’ Council but that the problem was deciding what sort of council it should be and what its function would be.

Mr Bencini expressed the hope that this matter is not shelved for another six years but that it is dealt with as soon as possible.

The MUT president also spoke about the facilitators and teachers for people with special needs. He said there are around 900 of these at present, costing the country about Lm3.8 million. However, he said, more than two-thirds of them are still without the necessary qualifications and required diploma in order to do their job properly and professionally. He said the Ministerial Committee on Inclusive Education has been meeting for a number of years to discuss this and similar issues but no result has yet been achieved.

On the subject of education reform, Mr Bencini said the MUT has started discussions with the government on the way forward. He said it will certainly not be an easy job, but warned that the union was not prepared to give in on what has been achieved in the past. “We will not give in one inch,” he warned.

He said the MUT has entered these discussions with an open mind and conscious of its responsibilities. However, he said, the union was prepared to cooperate as long as this reform will also bring about a change in what happens in the classroom. Teachers are proud of their role as educators, he said but, above all, the MUT is a trade union and while doing its utmost for the country to improve, it also has to keep in mind the interests of its members.

Speaking about children’s behaviour in class, Mr Bencini expressed his hope that the phrase “zero tolerance” for violence and behavioural problems at school is truly implemented. He said the MUT has submitted its proposals on the matter, adding that the MUT expects the government to put these proposals into practice during the next scholastic year.

He said that in view of verbal and physical abuse on teachers, the MUT had raised awareness on the issue and had also ordered a one-hour strike which was followed by a good 98 per cent of teachers and educators. “It is not acceptable that teachers and educators are treated like furniture in classroom, with a total lack of respect from students. This is not acceptable and will not be tolerated anymore,” he said.

In conclusion, Mr Bencini described the past two years as a busy time and expressed his satisfaction that the number of members had increased dramatically. From the 4,313 members in 1996, the number of members had increased to over 7,000 this year, which reflects an increase of more than 67 per cent. However, on a less positive note, he had strong words for members who did not take the trouble to complete their voting document and send it in the self-addressed envelope to vote for the MUT’s next council. He said the union had had a response from only 40 per cent of its membership.