Rosanne Zammit
Teacher shortage expected to grow in coming years - MUT
John Bencini
One of the issues expected to be tackled at the Malta Union of Teachers general conference being held today is the teacher shortage, which is expected to get worse in the coming years as fewer students opt for teaching degree courses.
Union president John Bencini told a news conference yesterday that the number of students currently studying to become primary school teachers over the four years of the BEd (Hons) degree amounted to 130 against the usual 400. Of these, only nine are men. This means that only 35 to 36 will be graduating this year against the usual 100 to 110.
Those studying to become secondary school teachers total 390 over four years, instead of the usual 500. Although the numbers were not as drastic in this area, the biggest gap lay in the sciences, computer studies and information technology fields.
As a result of this shortage, a number of classes would not have professional teachers and the government would have to employ more supply teachers, Mr Bencini said.
While the problem would be mitigated by a decreasing birth rate, it was still a growing one. It was exacerbated because teachers who used to spend their whole life in the profession were now changing career paths after a number of years.
The shortage, however, is being felt throughout Europe. The EU, Mr Bencini said, has estimated it would require 1.5 million teachers in the next 10 years.
The government, he added, could not afford to keep telling teachers who were willing to teach for a number of hours each week that they could only work full-time or not at all.
The conference, which will include a keynote speech by Ronald A. Smith, a member of the general council of the Scottish Trades Union Congress and a teacher of home economics, has been themed Teacher Education - The European And Scottish Perspective".
It will include the election of the MUT council and officials. Thirty officials out of 40 nominees have to be elected, including the post of president which is being contested by Mr Bencini, the incumbent, and by Anthony Micallef Debono.
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W Pawley
May 30th 2008, 09:31
The problem with this shortage lies in the salaries. How can a 'professional' who spends 4 years at university be rewarded with such low salaries, when other jobs from courses at university pay higher wages? Aren't 8 years to climb a salary scale too long? How can a teacher increase the chances of futhering his/her carreer without studying further? During the past two to three years, there was an increase in the salaries of other professions particularly IT and accounting services, whilst the salaries of teachers stayed put because of the collective agreement. I don't think that it is worth taking a B.Ed. course for four years only to earn such low wages, and this is why students are not taking the course. Why doesn't the collective agreement be revised. If I'm not mistaken the agreement with the doctors was revised following the opening of Mater Dei. How come the same thing does not happen with teachers? I'm sure that students will then consider taking B.Ed as their university course.
Louise Chircop
May 29th 2008, 22:38
@K Bonello
I am sure you are aware that instructors were employed in primary and secondary schools until the mid- 90s. Many never set foot in a trade school but that is not the point I am trying to make. My point is that if people want to advance in their career they should study. It is not a question of money either. Do doctors become specialists just by working in a hospital? In order to progress in their career they have to study more. So why weren't instructors encouraged to attend University and read for a B.Ed if they wished to teach and advance in their career? Apparently they wanted to get promoted but did not want the hassle of studying.
K Bonello
May 29th 2008, 20:12
@Louise Chircop
1. The last MUT Govt agreement gave the right to instructors to be able to get promoted and have a possibility of career progression like all other workers in the world. As regards to salary progression and salary scales they remained as they always were and as defined by the Public Service Commission. The MUT battled for the right of these people to be given the possibility of getting promoted. Maybe Ms. Chircop is not aware that these instructors were originally employed against the advise of many to fill in trade schools set up by the government of the time and that when the trade schools were subsequently closed
instructors were denied of any chance of career progression.
2. Instructors need 15 years teaching experience to finally START on a salary scale of a BRAND NEW teacher -- For 15 years they have a salary which at best is 3 scales below that of a new (qualified) teacher -- so does it pay to study I ask?
3. Postgraduate courses are regulated by the Universities offering them and no Union in the world can interfere.
Anthony Micallef Debono
May 29th 2008, 17:27
Re last paragraph of report:
The MUT Council is elected by means of a postal ballot which was posted yesterday. The President is elected by members through this ballot together with the other Council members but the other officials are elected by the elected members at the first Council meeting.
Louise Chircop
May 29th 2008, 17:02
What is the problem with employing more supply teachers, and unqualified ones to boot? When the last collective agreement was signed, those teachers who had been supply teachers, who then became instructors (after a 300 hour course), have been given the status of 'teachers' and now can apply for the post of assistant heads. Some of them even followed a post graduate course, without having a first degree.
So why all the fuss now? This collective agreement, while demoralising qualified teachers, has sent the message that:
you do not need a university degree to teach
it does not pay to 'waste' 4 years studying when you can do the 'same' job without studying and you will be rewarded for NOT studying
teaching is not a profession after all - anyone can do it even without the necessary qualifications. Shame on MUT.