Teachers threaten harsh action

The Malta Union of Teachers is prepared to take harsh action if the education authorities persist in taking "half-baked" measures to try and control unruly schoolchildren.

MUT president John Bencini was fuming yesterday after learning that the Education Division was taking "minimal" action against a 14-year-old student who punched his teacher to the ground on Wednesday.

The teacher, 24, ordered his rowdy class at the Boys' Junior Lyceum, in Paola to settle down after the school lunch break. The student in question allegedly slammed his chair in protest and after being ordered out of class, he assaulted the tutor, breaking his teeth in the process.

Mr Bencini said he was informed yesterday that despite the incident, the aggressor would be allowed to sit for his exams next week at school (albeit in a different classroom) and will then be suspended for a fortnight.

He said the MUT acted prudently and was waiting for strict measures from the division before commenting.

"We've been promised a zero tolerance attitude, but the kind of punishment certainly doesn't reflect it. We're not in a position to say what punitive measures should be taken."

He did add, however, that the union had suggested that the boy's exam be held at head office instead of at school. "The boy would at least feel punished and a clear message would be sent to the other children."

Mr Bencini said the teacher in question, fresh out of university, was suffering from psychological repercussions and felt humiliated, especially since several students chuckled during the attack.

"We've been accused by the authorities of inflating the problem, but our members know what's going on," he said.

Examples given by Mr Bencini reflect a deteriorating situation, with teachers being victimised by unruly pupils. Earlier this week, Mr Bencini held a meeting with teachers from a girls' secondary school who claimed that the situation was spiralling out of control.

"In this school, the teachers are being ridiculed, sworn at in the most obscene expletives and even physically abused. Our members are dreading walking into school, especially on Monday morning. Can you imagine? We have reached a stage where a teacher recently asked a 13-year old girl to stay at home," he said.

So what should the education authorities do?

Mr Bencini said security personnel and social workers should be introduced in every school immediately.

Though children had nowadays earned a reputation for being more difficult, teachers could rely on professional back-up. This was especially the case in Denmark, he said.

The union was prepared to convene its council and decide on its next line of action if the authorities fail to tackle the unruly behaviour. "We are even considering legal action against our employers in line with health and safety standards."

The MUT is to inform the minister in writing that the union council is prepared to "go it alone" to ensure more discipline among students. He did not elaborate.

An MUT survey carried out three years ago among teachers showed that 64 per cent had been verbally abused and another 31 per cent said they had experienced physical abuse.

This was in stark contrast with statistics provided by the ministry. Speaking at a conference last November, Education Minister Louis Galea said that unacceptable behaviour by 23 students towards their teachers had been reported in the previous two years.

The Education Ministry yesterday referred to the statistics quoted by Dr Galea, adding that these were not alarming considering the thousands of students in schools.

A ministry spokesman told The Times: "This however by no means justifies any violent attitude and the ministry reaffirms the zero tolerance to violence in schools and will act on each case."

The spokesman said the student in question had been suspended with immediate effect, though he was being allowed to sit for his exams since they were important for his schooling.

He will be sitting for his exams in a separate classroom, with an invigilator, and will not wear a school uniform. Once the exams are over, a conference will be held to decide the pupil's fate.

"Although we give the guidelines, it's the school which ultimately decides on the punishment. Students have been expelled in the past but we can't forget children have a right by law to education," the spokesman said.

Asked whether the Education Division was considering beefing up security at schools, he replied that though this would help in some cases, in last Wednesday's incident there was little a security officer could have done.