MUT issues directives to primary school teachers

The Malta Union of Teachers yesterday issued directives to primary school teachers in a dispute with the authorities on the implementation of curricular development sessions in government schools.

The union said teachers feel restricted by the bureaucratic demands placed upon them by the 90-minute weekly sessions, which, the MUT insists, are not being implemented according to the reform agreement.

It said it had drawn the authorities' attention to the fact that an adequate complement of peripatetic teachers and other supply teachers was required to cover for those attending the sessions.

Although an agreement was reached on the employment of relief teachers, no such action has been taken yet, the union complained. It has therefore instructed primary class teachers not to draw up agendas or write minutes for these sessions. The union also directed complementary teachers not to take whole primary school classes.

The MUT said the directives will hold until the authorities recruit the adequate support teaching staff, especially relief teachers so that curricular exigencies are professionally met without overloading and stretching of existent staff.

A spokesman said the Education Ministry did not plan to comment on the issue yesterday.