Ministry lashes out at MUT for issuing directives

The Education Ministry yesterday accused the Malta Union of Teachers of issuing directives to complementary teachers without informing the authorities.

In a statement, the ministry expressed surprise that the union failed to discuss the issue or make complaints before issuing directives.

Earlier this week, the union directed complementary teachers not to take over entire classes, saying this was not their role. The MUT said the complementary teachers should continue to perform their duties among the individual students or groups assigned to them because of their particular needs.

But the ministry said the 76 complementary teachers - who are responsible of teaching children who show signs of difficulty in reading - were 'invited' to give literacy lessons to whole classes and many had accepted because they recognised the benefit for pupils. They were also doing so voluntarily.