Discussions between the Malta Union of Teachers and Education Minister Clifton Grima are ongoing, President of the union Marco Bonnici told The Malta Independent.

The union and the government had long been at loggerheads over the collective agreement. The last agreement expired around three years ago, and the union had instituted a number of directives over the length of time negotiations were taking. Protests by teachers and students had also taken place.

Talks seem to have progressed over the festive period, and during an interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday in January, Bonnici had said that his hope, and that of the ministry, was to try and solve the issue by the end of January.

Contacted on Tuesday for an update, however, Bonnici said that discussions with the minister are ongoing. "There are points where there is agreement and others on which discussions are taking place, but the process is ongoing," he said.

He said that the union's intention is to reach agreement as quickly as possible. Asked for his prediction as to when agreement could be reached, he said that depends on the discussions taking place, but said that talks are happening "practically every day".