Government denies nine new teachers were demoted

Nine new teachers are worried their salary will be cut by almost €1,000 in their first working year as a result of a demotion, although the Education Ministry denies they were demoted to supply teachers.

The president of the Malta Union of Teachers, John Bencini insisted that the distraught youngsters were informed of the demotion during a meeting with the Education Directorate's human resources director Alfred Mallia yesterday.

"All nine of them said they were not guaranteed a regular job and, when they pressed the authorities, they were told that, for the time being, they would work as supply teachers and would hear from the division in a few days' time," he said.

Mr Bencini explained that not only did the teachers stand to lose €888 in their first year at work and miss out on the annual €447 increment but they would also lose job security.

The situation emerged on Monday when the union complained that a number of teachers had their employment terminated due to "administrative incompetence" after the official results of University re-sits were published late and, therefore, deemed invalid.

"This is gross negligence which has cost these nine young teachers their regular job, causing them to be demoted to supply teachers (who fill in for regular teachers)," Mr Bencini insisted.

A ministry spokesman said the directorate was seeking to clarify the eligibility of the nine newly-recruited teachers.