Updated: Reduction in education budget will not affect students or teachers badly - ministry
Evarist Bartolo.
The reduction in the education budget will not affect students or teachers badly, the Education Ministry said.
In a statement this evening replying to a news conference given earlier today by the PL’s spokesman for education, the ministry said that following talks with the Finance Ministry, which were held regularly, it could guarantee that student services would not be affected by the reduction and teachers could put their mind at rest that they would be getting wages and all their dues.
Mr Bartolo said that the Education Ministry’s budget was expected to run out of funds for salaries, school transport and school cleaning by the end of the year.
He recalled that when the national budget was scaled back in January, the Education Minister had claimed that education would not be affected but by March it became known that funds had been reduced by €7 million.
Mr Bartolo said that it had now been calculated that the allocation for salaries and allowances would have a shortfall of between €4m and €5m by the end of the year. There were not even enough funds for the payment of allowances in October, although the Treasury paid the allowances anyway.
He said that a shortfall of €1m was expected for school transport.
The shortfall in the allocation for school cleaning was such that tenders have not been issued and some school cleaning was not being made, he said.
Mr Bartolo said there was a €500,000 shortfall in funding for LSAs in church and independent schools
In its reply, the ministry said that transport would also not be affected and the government would honour its obligations. Learning Support Assistants in church and independent schools would also be paid regularly and the school cleaning service was to be retained.
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23 Comments
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John Scerri
Nov 1st 2012, 07:21
When all around us are taking austeritiy measures , on everything including increase of fees for students to enter university, here we have a prospective education minister complaining about something not worth complaining about .
Substance is missing in your arguements dear Evarist.
We are much better off than all out neighbouring countries.
High time you visited UOM , MCAST and JC
Ramon Casha
Nov 1st 2012, 05:56
The education ministry's statement does not make any sense. Unless they are saying that large sums of money were being wasted on worthless endeavours, then the money was going to be used for something useful, and now will not.
I suggest that the education ministry publishes a list of which expenses are being cut back, so we can ensure that students and teachers will be unaffected.
L Galea
Oct 31st 2012, 22:07
Perhaps if certain education institutions were not invaded by nepotism, our education budget would be less expensive.
Joseph Bugeja
Oct 31st 2012, 19:51
But education is about building a new school every year no?. I wonder who the net beneficiaries are? I got mine (education) in classrooms befitting a concentration camp...and I attended a church school and did well.
Ms. P.M Graham
Oct 31st 2012, 18:51
"The reduction in the education budget will not affect students or teachers badly, the Education Ministry said."
"badly", so it will affect them, yes?
Sadly the Ministry did not deny the shortfall.
Mary Ann Borg
Oct 31st 2012, 18:16
Dan l-istess Varist li fit 22 xahar li ghamel ministru li kkalkula li l-istudenti jridu bilfors ihallsu ghax inkella ma jkunux jistghu imorru l-Universita?
Malcolm Farrugia
Oct 31st 2012, 18:36
Evarist Bartolo flimkien ma Joseph Muscat diga stqarrhu li il-Partit Laburista mhux ha jnaqqas l'istipendji lil-istudenti, jekk xejn jizdiedu l'istipendji!
Frans Aguis
Nov 1st 2012, 08:28
Xi haga li l-PN qablet mahha ax ma l-ewwel cans li kellha qactet l-istipendji ukol.
Mr Emanuel Farrugia
Oct 31st 2012, 18:02
Mela Evarist Bartolo jghid moghod u 'l Prim Ministru u 'l Ministru responsabbli jghidu moghod iehor. Kull minn ghandu halqu kulhadd jghid li jrid, halli jkomplu jghaddu z-zmien bis-socjeta. Halluna nghixu, tafu li qeghdin nghixu fl-2012 jew u mhux fis-60's?
Emanuel Farrugia former Executive Secretary Mtarfa Local Council
Mario Tabone
Oct 31st 2012, 17:08
The day that I believe a word of what Evarist Bartolo or any other shadow minister says will be a very sad day indeed !!!!
I happen to be old enough to know the Labour Party in government and better still in opposition and I would not trust them as far as I could throw them.
G Schembri
Oct 31st 2012, 20:15
It was not a shadow Minister who lied about how another MP had voted.
N. Agius
Oct 31st 2012, 16:46
If this is true, then it is worrying indeed. I really hope that the ministry denies these claims as we cannot play with our children's future!
Henry S Pace
Oct 31st 2012, 16:36
' Shortfall in funds for salaries in the Education Ministry - Bartolo '
AS USUAL . GENTE DEL MALAUGURIO,
G Schembri
Nov 1st 2012, 07:31
I suggest you hear what the MUT is saying about LSAs.
Paul Azzopardi
Oct 31st 2012, 16:23
Why the worry the Government is flashing so much money on so much Glam, I'm sure they can make funds suddenly materialize from somewhere after all it was good sense that made them spend a ''few'' millions on the Very much needed brand new spickn Parlament seat in Valletta. Hell yeah!! Our Government has it all in hand no worries everyone, we are A OK....wait and see ya all.
Eve Axiaq
Oct 31st 2012, 16:14
But they still found millions to consultancy fees and instant cash payments for BWSC. Some people are getting real millionares for nothing from our back. Austerity is round the corner just after elections.
Mr Daniel Jones
Oct 31st 2012, 18:23
And just watch, the austerity will be blamed on the new labour government.
Ronnie Callus
Oct 31st 2012, 16:09
Thott minghajr ma trodd is-SWAR THOTT u hekk se' jigrilu dan il-pajjiz, ghax ghalkemm ingibdet l-attenzjoni tal-Gvern minn Josef Bonnici - Gvernatur tal-bank centrali, diversi drabi rigward id-dejn,bqajna nonfqu izjed milli ndahhlu sena wara l-ohra. Din mhi serjeta' xejn ta' tmexxija. Dr.Gonzi u Tonio Fenech hudu nota.
Anthony Farrugia
Oct 31st 2012, 15:56
If next years Budget is not approved, thanks to Franco Debono and the Opposition, it will not only be the Education Ministry with a shortfall but all ministries including Social Security ( pensions, benefits, children's allowance), salaries. What a start to 2013 !
Anthony Pace
Oct 31st 2012, 15:55
Why worry! Just borrow some more money on the international market like the PIIGS did. After a common currency allows you to do just anything you like. Issue ofgoverment bonds is generally sold out.
Victor Calleja
Oct 31st 2012, 15:37
Cyprus here we come
Toni Borg
Oct 31st 2012, 15:42
Why not a catch a plane to Cyprus seeing you like it so much!!!
Paul Azzopardi
Oct 31st 2012, 16:18
You could use Arriva buses to get to Cyprus they probably float much better then they drive on our roads :)
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