A former St Edward’s College teacher was awarded Lm2,500 after an industrial tribunal found that the college terminated her job in an irregular way and did not consider her for filling another teaching post she was competent to fill.

The tribunal, presided over by Harold Walls, said Sandra Theuma’s employment was terminated irregularly and the college acted illegally when in less than a year’s time after her job termination, the college issued a public call for employing another teacher in a subject which Ms Theuma could teach, instead of rehiring her.

Ms Theuma was employed on 16 August 1995 in order to teach accounts and economics at different levels. Her job was terminated by a letter on 9 January 1996 and her notice period ended on 30 April 2006. The job was terminated on the grounds of reduction in the teaching hours on her timetable.

The tribunal heard how Ms Theuma was a qualified teacher specialising in economics. She also holds an advanced level qualification in Mathematics and also studied several mathematics units at university.

Ms Theuma had asked the head of the mathematics department to fill the vacancy and she was told that she will refer her case to the director of studies.

However, she was not called for an interview and refused her termination of employment. As soon as she showed her intention of contesting her termination, she was offered to teach Mathematics at Form 4 level. However, the headmaster tried dissuading her. She went as far as asking for the proposal to be given to her in writing, however, it was never given to her, and the headmaster denied that he made such an offer.

The tribunal heard how the college was not sure whether to entrust Ms Theuma with teaching mathematics as it held that she was not adequately qualified.

However, the tribunal said that there are several cases in which a teacher may be qualified to teach a subject even if not graduated in that particular field.

The tribunal also said that this situation could have been solved if the college consulted with the Education Department.

The tribunal also heard how in less than a year after Ms Theuma’s job termination, the college issued a call for applications for a part-time teacher in Economics and Business Studies, a subject which Ms Theuma used to teach.

Dr George Abela and Dr Lydia Zerafa appeared for Ms Theuma.