The Malta Union of Teachers has blasted the Education Ministry over their “sudden haste” in publishing the protocols under which schools will reopen next month. 

The union said that after asked the government to publish the protocols so that everyone can be prepared, the Education Ministry wants to hurry the process up and release the protocols next Friday. 

The MUT said that they had a meeting with the ministry about the situation, and at no time was it said that the protocols would be published on Friday – only days after the discussion on these same protocols began.

The government has continued to insist that schools will open their doors and physically welcome students come the end of September and the start of next scholastic year, with the Prime Minister saying that it would be an educational catastrophe if this does not happen.  Various scenarios, ranging from a full physical opening, to complete online schooling have been suggested for the reopening.

“The MUT, which thus far doesn’t even know what scenario will be used or what these protocols consist of, sustain that it cannot be that these protocols are published with there being any input from educators, and it is clear that this will not be possible if the Ministry publishes the guidelines from one day to the next”, the union said in a statement. 

It hasn’t even been decided in what manner teaching will be carried out over the course of the scholastic year, the MUT said. 

The MUT said that they are consulting all stakeholders, including members and the Church and Independent schools sectors in order to ensure that the voice of the educators is considered at every stage. 

“The MUT is not going to let the Ministry steamroll over educators”, the union warned. 

With this in mind, the union declared that it is not ready to discuss these protocols in such a hurried manner especially if the decisions have already been taken. 

The MUT added that it is ready to take all the necessary measures to safeguard the interests, health and safety of educators and students. 

The statement comes hot on the heels of another one issued by the Independent Schools Association, who said that schools can only physically reopen if the current spike of Covid-19 cases is dealt with in a “proactive, responsible and effective” way and the virus’ reproduction factor is reduced to a safe level.

Stock Image: Alenka Falzon