Partit Demokratiku today condemned the government riding roughshod over the teachers of Malta, particularly in a time when the profession is increasingly under strain. The proposed Education Act must be halted and withdrawn. There is value to be found in teachers keeping up to date with latest good practices, however, the recently signed collective agreement already stipulates that career progression depends on them.

That teachers' warrants would be revoked in favour of 'temporary' ones is not acceptable. That the warrants would be renewed by a Teachers' Council on the basis of a continuous proficiency test IS unacceptable. Partit Demokratiku asks who would be the judge, who would the members of such a council be, and warns of the possibility for abuse in such a system.

Teachers who may disagree with the government, for example, would run the risk of suffering professionally, as Malta already has problems of clientelism. Partit Demokratiku expresses its full support to the MUT and the teaching profession, and will guard the interests of teachers in Malta.