Updated: MUT says it was not invited for launch of Teachers' Council

(Adds Education Ministry reaction)

The MUT Council has expressed disappointment for not being officially invited to the launching of the Teachers’ Council earlier this week.

It said it had always pushed forward the idea of a self-regulatory organ for the teaching profession akin to those of the established professions. For over a decade it had stressed the importance of establishing a teaching council as a regulatory body for the teaching profession.

"As the originator and main promoter of the Teaching Council, the MUT fails to understand how its own council was not officially invited for this occasion. Although the MUT has reservations about the degree of autonomy and self-regulation enjoyed by Council, it has more the less welcomed its foundation as an important achievement in the history of education in Malta," the MUT said.

"It is highly striking that the Union’s contribution to the setting up of the Teaching Council has gone officially unrecognized and unacknowledged. This does not augur well for the developments in education since it is widely recognized that an active partnership between all stakeholders is essential," the union said.

The Ministry of Education said it was surprised by the MUT statement.

It said the Teaching Council included two representatives of the MUT and four persons nominated by teachers.

At the launching of the council only the members of the council were invited. The ministry said it could not understand why the MUT felt offended, adding that it would have expected the MUT to express its satisfaction over the setting up of the council.