MUT directives to teaching grades

The Malta Union of Teachers has issued directives to teaching grades, effective from tomorrow at 8 a.m., after declaring an industrial dispute over the new collective agreement and facilitators.

The MUT said one of the issues concerned the conclusion of negotiations on a collective agreement for the years 2002-2004, particularly the inclusion of a sectoral agreement for all teaching grades.

The other issue was over the recruitment of facilitators.

The MUT is insisting on the publication of a call for applications for the post of facilitator in Scale 12 progressing to scale 10 and open to candidates who have successfully completed the Faculty of Education Certificate in Education for Learning Support Facilitators.

However, the Ministry of Education said the directives issued by the MUT were not justified and would create needless difficulties for children and their parents.

The ministry also said that negotiations on the collective agreement were still taking place between the Office of the Prime Minister and all the unions representing those employed in the public service.

The ministry added that discussions are also being held within the Ministerial Committee on Inclusive Education with regard to the 'position description' of facilitators.

The ministry said the 'position description' was expected to be finalised during the next meeting of the committee.

The MUT directives are that teaching grades should correct all annual examination scripts but not enter marks on the scripts. They were further directed not to hand in the results to the school administration or any other official.

The MUT also directed all facilitators and kindergarten assistants performing duties with Kinder I and Kinder II and with children with special needs in the mainstream to work to rule until further notice.

A meeting for MUT delegates and school committee members in state schools will be held at the Teacher's Institute in Valletta on June 19 at 4.30 p.m.