Following Norman Vella's blog of Friday, 31 October entitled "Nhar it-Tnejn mgħandiex tkun vaganza" (Next Monday shouldn't be a holiday), the Malta Learning Support Association (MLSA) feels the need to express its opinion on the subject and to put forward reasons why the mid-term holidays should remain on the scholastic calendar. MLSA represents Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) in Malta and Gozo and its members form part of the education staff that benefit from such holidays.

Mr Vella clearly stated that mid-term holidays should be eliminated from the scholastic calendar because these holidays are placing a burden on parents who work. MLSA thinks that when one expresses an opinion, this should be put forward bearing in mind a 360º perspective. Mr Vella talked in favour of the parents who work. However, it is worth pointing out that schools are full of parents who work and the wording used in the blog, with reference to the subject in caption, Mr Vella has completely ignored parents who work in the education sector such as LSAs, teachers or school management Teams (SMT).

It is worth highlighting that nowadays, more than in previous years, schools cater for a number of things and not solely teaching, as Mr Vella's teacher friends have pointed out. Apart from the pedagogical aspect of teaching, teachers and LSAs have to do pastoral care duties with children who do not have any particular condition but have deep social problems, are emotionally unstable and who may exhibit challenging behaviour as a result. These factors cause a lot of extra work and stress to teachers, LSAs as well as to SMTs, even though most of the mentioned staff members do their job with confidence and absolute dedication. The mentioned factors amalgamated with other duties, which were always present in the education profession, are an essential reason why mid-term holidays should remain.  

Further to the above, parents who work in the private sector can make a request for leave whenever they need to, and when there is a stop leave situation they are advised beforehand. In contrast, LSAs, teachers and SMTs can only avail themselves of only 27½ hours of special leave when they have an emergency, have hospital appointments or other commitments during the scholastic period. Once this entitlement is used, parents who work in a school have to apply for unpaid leave. This could have a detrimental effect especially on those who only have one breadwinner in the family.

While respecting Mr Vella's opinion, MLSA fails to understand the actual reason behind the request for removing mid-term holidays expressed with such urgency. MLSA feels that there are other crucial issues facing Maltese society and the mid-term holidays are not a major concern for the Maltese Islands. Other European countries have these holidays on the scholastic calendar, so why should Malta remove them? Holidays provide an opportunity for spending time with the family and relaxing, and therefore, should remain and be considered an investment in education staff, who will go back to work with a healthier body and mind. In return, this will have a positive ripple effect on the education of Maltese children and adolescents.

Mary Ann Gatt

President

Malta Learning Support Association