Education Minister's new duties worry teachers

The increased workload of Education Minister Dolores Cristina following last week's Cabinet reshuffle is worrying the Malta Union of Teachers, which has called on the Prime Minister to reconsider the decision.

The reshuffle, which followed Social Policy Minister John Dalli's resignation after he was appointed European Commissioner, saw Mrs Cristina heading the Ministry of Education, Employment and the Family.

The ministry later insisted the education sector would continue to get the attention it deserved, despite the additional responsibilities given to Mrs Cristina.

The MUT felt this would have "serious consequences" on the education sector's operation. The union said the education sector had already been facing difficulties, which had remained unsolved for a long time.

Discussions between the ministry, its directorates and the MUT had become increasingly scarce and irregular and this was not helping the relationship between both sides, the union said.

It noted that the creation of the colleges system had resulted in a major change. Heads of school did not know who they were answerable to and many teachers felt frustrated because of added responsibilities, which were increasing by the day and for which they were not paid.

Letters sent to Mrs Cristina and the directorates at the ministry were often left unanswered, leaving individuals to continue facing injustices, the MUT said. Decisions either took too long to be made or were not made at all, it added.

The ministry denied its meetings with the union had become infrequent but pointed out it was normal practice that no meetings were held while industrial action was in force, as was the case now. The ministry said that over the past few days the MUT had turned down invitations for two meetings with the Finance Ministry's joint negotiating team.

It denied MUT claims that correspondence was not answered and decisions were not being made, pointing out the reforms carried out in the education system over the past few months.