Education Minister Evarist Bartolo expressed his disappointment at the Malta Union of Teachers’ (MUT) decision to call a strike across all schools next Monday, questioning them for acting like the door for discussion was closed when in actual fact it was ‘wide open’.

The MUT has so far turned down requests that it should meet with the ministry to sort out the differences. Another call for a conciliatory meeting was made this morning.

Writing on Facebook on Thursday morning, Bartolo made it clear that the Ministry’s door was open for discussion with the MUT on the controversial Education Act and that they were ready to discuss the points of contention so an agreement was reached.

In a statement on Wednesday, the MUT said that the proposed act would ‘undermine’ the teaching profession and aside from calling the strike, they instructed educators to wear black on Friday – which happens to be World Teachers’ Day – in mourning for the profession.

As part of the strike, the Union ordered all educators in State, Church and independent schools including post-secondary and tertiary institutions not to report to work on Monday. The union is also asking teaches to put the above photo as their profile picture on social media.

The MUT’s main point of contention regarding the bill is on a proposal to remove “permanent” teaching warrants and replace them with renewable ones, which will be subject to renewal on the basis of continuous professional development and a proficiency test.

The union has also expressed other concerns though, disagreeing with the proposed removal of the need for a warrant to provide home-schooling  and also saying that sanctions against those harming teachers were not enough of a deterrent.

 

In a statement, the Education Ministry said it had requested a conciliatory meeting with the MUT in a bid to resolve the impasses.

The ministry said that the union is misinterpreting the amendment about teacher's warrant, as the ministry has no intention to eliminate the system as it is now.

It is ready to sit down with the union to find a common way forward.

Faculty of Education Statement 

The process to review the Education Act is long overdue, and it is positive that professions related to education are given due importance within the ever-changing local context, the Faculty of Education said in a statement.

The Faculty of Education participated actively during the consultation process which leads to the formulation of a new Education Act and provided substantial feedback. Although this was based on research evidence and documentation it has only been taken into consideration marginally.

The faculty said it is especially concerned with the lack of clear parameters in relation to the warranting of the teaching profession. This could potentially have negative implications, which could undermine teacher education and, even more seriously, the whole profession. Furthermore, it notes that the proposed Act ought to give more prominence to the development and upgrading of teacher education, as recently agreed in liaison with stakeholders.  There is no reference to the minimum qualifications necessary to qualify as a teacher and the mechanisms proposed to regulate this are obscure.

The Education Act, as proposed, requires major re-thinking and should put teachers and learners at the centre of a wider process. At present, it can lead to excessive centralisation of decision taking, and to a situation where the voices of educators and learners are not given the space they deserve. The institutions that this Act will govern, including the Council for the Teaching Profession, require a better representation in their composition and a transparent process in relation to the manner through which members will be selected. It should be ascertained that they all have the necessary expertise for the role assigned to them.

As the foremost teacher-education institution in the country, the Faculty of Education asks for its views to be duly respected, and renews its willingness to collaborate with all parties. It takes this occasion to remind all that 5 October, World Teachers’ Day, celebrates the rights and responsibilities of teachers as professionals. It also marks the importance of high standards for their initial preparation as well as possibilities for further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions. These are all aspects that should be safeguarded by the Education Act and by all policies related to professions in education.