MUT directives for teachers in primary sector

The MUT has issued a number of directives to teachers because of its concern at the way the 1.5 hours weekly curricular development session (CDS) is being implemented across primary schools.

It instructed primary class teachers not to draw agendas or write minutes for CDS, peripatetic teachers who were not being given the 1.5 hours en block for CDS to take the 1.5 hours CDS on Fridays during the last 1.5 hours and to receive time-table instructions based upon curricular exigencies and complementary teachers not to take whole primary school classes.

The union said it has been protesting with the authorities that the implementation of the CDS was not being carried out according to the reform agreement for over a year.

The MUT drew the authorities’ attention that the implementation of the CDS required an adequate complement of peripatetic teachers and other supply full-time or part-time teachers as established in the agreement. The authorities had also bound themselves to employ relief teachers.

However, there was virtually no further recruitment in the primary sector permitting adequate coverage for the CDS.

Relief teachers were not employed and this led to maximisation of workload for staff in primary schools. The union also noted the lack of uniformity of implementation of CDS sessions across colleges and the inequitable distribution of workloads across peripatetic teachers.

It said it was seriously concerned that the present situation was leading to frustration across all teachers in the primary sector and the current implementation of the CDS was defying its very scope.