Government schoolteachers will strike on Thursday and Friday over plans to reopen schools amid a new spike of Covid-19 cases.

The news came after the Malta Union of Teachers held talks with Prime Minister Robert Abela on Wednesday evening. An industrial dispute was registered after no agreement was reached.

The MUT said all its members at primary, secondary, university and kindergarten will not turn up for work. 

The Union of Professional Educators said its members would also be joining the strike. 

Education Minister Justyne Caruana told TVM, however, that schools would be opening as planned because the health authorities have not called for their closure. “The health authorities did not advise us to close schools so they’ll reopen tomorrow, ready to welcome our children with all the protocols to safeguard health,” she said.

Both teachers’ unions, as well as the Opposition had warned against the reopening of state schools. They claimed the government was ignoring advice to keep schools closed for the time being. This was denied on Wednesday afternoon by Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci.

Private and Church schools have postponed their reopening and will be doing online lessons for the time being.

MUT President Marco Bonnici said the union had met briefly with Prime Minister Robert Abela, Education Minister Justyne Caruana and with the health authorities.

The union again insisted that, due to current circumstances, schools should remain closed at least until the end of the week and lessons should be held online.

Bonnici said independent and Church schools had agreed to remain closed, but this led to a situation of “discrimination” because the Prime Minister refused to allow state schools to do the same. “This is unacceptable. If there are risks, there are risks for everyone,” Bonnici argued.

He reiterated that the education authorities had been advised against the reopening of schools. In view of the situation, he said, “we cannot go on as if it was business as usual.”

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech expressed solidarity with all educators who had to go on strike because of a government run by a Prime Minister, which is still ignoring the recommendations given by the health authorities.

“Although the Minister for Education has changed, the attitude of the government remains the same,” Grech said.

He added that this is the fault of PM Abela’s “incompetence and arrogance,” as he continues to ignore the advice and recommendations given by the health authorities, and instead continues as if it was “business as usual.”

Grech stated that, Abela’s actions, “are putting the health of students, teachers, parents as well as school staff at risk.”

“Prime Minister Robert Abela should allow the health authorities to decide on what needs to be done during such a delicate time,” Grech said.

 

Photo: Net News