MUT strike to go ahead despite talks

John F Borg

Jan 16th 2009, 21:07

Without going into the merits of whether the strike should have been held or not, I disagree that supply employees are given a permanent job.

Most of supply teachers a recruited with A-level standard of education, withought the nercessary degree and requirements for the post of full time teachers. For this system to work the requirements for the post of supply teachers should be raised to par with those required of regular teachers.

It is not fair that persons without the necessary qualifications are given teaching posts, when a degree is a pre-requisite for a regular teacher. A degree which is obtained following a 4 year course at university. To add insult to injury, a graduate teacher has to undergo these 4 years without any significant income, loosing thousands of euro in the process. This is not the case for a supply teacher who is absorbed into the system after some years teaching.

This would definitely discourage young students from reading a degree in education, and lowering standards in the process.

When there is a lack of doctors or nursing staff the government does not call people in possesion of A-levels. This should neither be the case in teaching.

Jos Vella

Jan 14th 2009, 21:50

I think that if the MUT had asked the Department of Education for a 2 hour break, the DOE would have accepted and granted the 2 hours break. Why go on strike when there are talks going on? I do not understand.

David Pisani

Jan 14th 2009, 20:47

Thanks MUT for supporting workers and their famthats. Unions are there to improve working conditions.

Am feel sad to know that franchise industry workers are not unionised, which is a big sector in Malta. Employers must change their view with regards to unions.