Cristina questions proposed sabbatical for teachers
Cristina questions proposed sabbatical for teachers
Education Minister Dolores Cristina said this afternoon in a reaction to comments on education by labour leader Joseph Muscat that a final document on the national minimum curriculum was completed last December and she therefore could not understand how he had spoken about drawing it up.
The document, she said, was drawn up after extensive consultation with all involved.
Speaking at a press conference at PN headquarters, Ms Cristina said that while Dr Muscat spoke of building a coalition with the Malta Union of Teachers, such a coalition already existed.
The government and the union held regular meetings, at least once a month, she said, and despite occasional disagreements, they worked well together.
She said she wanted to reject the impression that Dr Muscat was trying to give that consultation was lacking, insisting that was far from being the case.
It was true, she added, that teachers went through a lot when reforms were introduced, but she said the reforms of the past few years were necessary for the education system to continue to evolve. She thanked teachers for their work and cooperation.
She said the PN government had improved the conditions of all teaching grades, as evidenced by recently-concluded collective agreements. The government had also offered scholarships and new opportunities for career development.
On Dr Muscat's proposal to have a paid sabbatical of up to one year to enable teachers to further their studies, Ms Cristina said she was not against sabbaticals but she wanted to know morel, notably how much the proposal would cost and how it would be implemented without disrupting schools if there was a large take-up.
Questioned about the parliamentary honoraria which ministers had received, Ms Cristina said an amount was deducted from her salary every month as part of the refund and she would pay up to the last penny.
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R Axisa
Feb 1st, 16:56
It's interesting if PN MPs confirm in which schools their children attend. I'm more than sure that the majority send their children to church or private schools.
Giov DeMartino
Feb 2nd, 12:19
Ask Joseph Muscat.
Joe Grech
Feb 1st, 11:08
Doleres Cristina failed to improve Literacy across the educational spectrum. Under her teachers jhad too many unnecessary chores to attend to - literacy suffered as a result.
Cristina was repeatedly shown to be INCOMPETENT in the handling of EU educational funding with many innocent people suffering as a result.
But PM Gonzi did not fire her & put party political considerations before national
Kimberly Farrugia
Feb 1st, 09:56
Oh let's shoot down Labour's proposals to divert from the fact that we don't have any of our own or that our track record in the last 5 years leaves much to be desired! This minister made a mess....as for paying to the last penny...yeah right! Shame on you!
G. Desira
Feb 1st, 09:05
It is a good proposal to have a paid sabotage for teachers, but most important is the disipline of those learning staff that are not given there utmost for the future of our children.
Wenzu Zammit
Feb 1st, 08:53
What about sabbatical for nurses,doctors , engineers and all other professionals!
jere roughton
Feb 1st, 08:36
what is joseph playing at all they want is to be in goverment he is going to crush malta .in a way i want it to happen so i san say "you see" but i cant afford to ruin 5 years of my kids education over it
J Mifsud
Feb 1st, 13:11
Actually such an idea already exists in other countries in the EU. So we are not inventing the wheel..it's a good opportunity which at the end will be a benefit for your kids education.
Joseph Borg
Feb 1st, 08:14
"Ms Cristina said that while Dr Muscat spoke of building a coalition with the Malta Union of Teachers, such a coalition already existed."
How come MUT remarked that they were not aware of the introduction of tablets? Does the final document mention such introductions? Does this document include the introduction of I.T. teachers in Elementary schools?
Alfred Felice
Feb 1st, 07:37
Thank you Dr. Cristina, because under your call so many good things haves been done overall. Do we see details in solid of PL 1000 euro bait, who qualifies, how paid, what sugjects, where one can go too etc. Good luck minister. Anyone can say I will give you if elected........
Freddi Felici
A Mercieca
Feb 1st, 07:18
If we listened to Joseph Made in Brussels, we would not be complaining about some lost EU funds. We would have lost them all. This is the point. Therefore do not dare to use the word credibility with JM PL. People do not forget.
B Ellul
Feb 1st, 07:43
Well said!
Noel Borg
Feb 1st, 07:09
Hon Cristina, have all Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries paid "up to the last penny"? Can anybody give us a breakdown of these "refund" paybacks? Can OPM or the Ministry of Finance confirm all this, or is it a state secret similar to when this was given to them?
Joe Xuereb
Feb 1st, 03:23
@Mary-G.Borg(Yesterday, 19:31). Ms. Borg, I trust to god you're not a tutor. As in, quote: '...Malti ...>accounted...>worthed. Worthed?! U Malta għandha ndustrija sħieħa tgħallem l-Ingliż lill-barranin! Wow!
Dolores is good at towing the line. Recently photographed smirking from ear to ear behind the PM while he was securing (and more) the solidity of some denominational school or other.
Lawrence Fenech
Feb 1st, 02:49
Cristina li ma kontx kapaci tghamel int qed jghamlu haddiehor u mill-oppozizzjoni biex isir meta ikun fil-gvern. Int l'inaqas wahda li ghandek tikkritika lil Joseph Muscat fuq l' edukazzjoni ghax iz-zelqa tieghek ghada tredden sal-lum.
stephen mifsud
Jan 31st, 23:45
tkellem bli imalti ... imsomma kolla Pepe ...kollox bli ingliz dawn inazzionalisti ... tafuh il malti jew ???
C Borg
Jan 31st, 23:36
Deo Gratias you're retiring Mrs Cristina! You're surely not going to be missed - neither by us teachers nor by the many disgruntled parents out there! Whenever you feel like it, why don't you come to speak to the parents about the reforms you're so proud to have introduced? It is us teachers who have to face the music for your decisions! It is a pity you're not experiencing the reform as a parent!
C Borg
Jan 31st, 23:24
2 ... ma ppubblikajtu! Wara 7 snin! Flok rajtu x'hadem u ma hadimx tfajtu l kulhadd fl-istess sitwazzjoni, Imma li tghid li kkonsultajtu l-ghalliema vera huwa insult kbir! Daqs kemm gew ikkonsultati l-genituri! Iddahhaqx! Saret laqgha wahda, tfjatu video biex timpressjonaw, u sugu xejn. U min ipprova jitkellem, ghallinqas fil-laqgha li kont fiha jien, harbulu mill-mistoqsija. Dik konsultazzjoni!
C Borg
Jan 31st, 23:20
1 Cristina giet rappurtata fil-media tghid li l-Kurrikulu sar b'hidma u konsultazzjoni mal-MUT. Cristina, l-MUT mhux hekk qalet taf! It-teachers mhux hekk qed jghidu taf! Nissuggerilek taghmel dibattitu mal-President tal-Union u ghalih tistiednu sample ta' ghalliema. Ha naraw min qed jghid il-verita. Lanqas bicca rapport fuq it-thaddim ta' l-ewwel skola li suppost kellha tkun pilot project ...
Mario Camilleri
Jan 31st, 22:56
How could you talk on education Ms Cristina when under your office it failed or rather you failed to accomplished mission. For the past 5 years we've had the worst record of illiteracy. You even failed in Family and Social Services Politics.
After all wasn't it time you called a day so you said?
G. Desira
Jan 31st, 22:47
The government schools needs more discipline with the learning staff, for the future of our children.
J Grech
Jan 31st, 22:17
Dolores Cristina speaking about consultation? She has a very sound sense of humour! Farewell Mrs Cristina. I am more than sure that the next Minister of Education (whoever s/he is) will fare better, much better!
P.S. Can you please publish your evaluation report on the first pilot project of the so called educational reform? It's St Benedict's College Kirkop just in case you forgot the name.
Matthias Farrugia
Jan 31st, 20:20
DR Dolores... im stil waiting on my YSSS scheme to give me a percentage on my 100K euros study couse in the UK... 4 years gone by...... I think you forgot us
Charles Camilleri
Jan 31st, 19:54
Il PN dawn it tlett gimgat irrejagixxa biss ghal dak li qieghed jinghad izda jaggixxi xejn.
Joseph Aquilina
Jan 31st, 20:10
Did Christina answer correctly? YES! What if half the teacher force we have decide to stop for a year to continue their studies!? What will Joseph promise all Muscat do?
Charles Camilleri
Jan 31st, 21:16
@ Joseph
What, if, when, where, what, how, bla bla bla
Joseph Sammut
Feb 1st, 08:15
@ Aquilina: nahseb li tohlom qadxejn. Sitema bhal din tkun organizzata w mhux kif qed tesegera inti. Imma kif tasal bix tahseb hekk dana kollu ghax din il-proposta ma harigiex il-PN? Jiddispjacini nghid, imma l-PN qieghed ikun "reactive" u mhux "active" f'din il-kampanja.
Malcolm Seychell
Jan 31st, 19:51
Do not speak about education. You have been a total failure....
Joe Busuttil
Jan 31st, 20:34
As also in the family ministry which was taken from her by Gonzipn.
J Grech
Jan 31st, 22:19
TOTAL - in capital letters please!
C Borg
Jan 31st, 23:29
She was in a total vacuum these past 5 years - the Educational system in our country is run by a few individuals who think they know everything - jaraw lil kulhadd dubbien! They dream of something at night and in the morning they make sure to accomplish it, no matter what! Shame on you! We need a lot of fresh air in Floriana! Please heed to what teachers have to say - we have just become numbers!
P Sciberras
Jan 31st, 19:44
I would like to add more that Mr De Martino has left out for his convenience: free schoolbooks which we had to pay for,free milk for everyone,free medicine for any who needed them, also,anyone,including adults suffering from TB,which was very common in those days,was sent free,to Switzerland for treatment.
Mary-Grace Borg
Jan 31st, 19:38
il problema bhal issa dejjem niddiskutu il proposti tal pl !!! u tal pn ?
J. Camilleri
Jan 31st, 19:29
Din f hiex tifhem fid disastru li ghamlu fir riforma fl edukazzjoni!
Peppi Borg
Jan 31st, 19:25
Is the minister sure that all stakeholders have a sense of belonging for the new nmc? I'm not!
Peppi Borg
Jan 31st, 19:23
Minister Cristina, what you called consultation with teachers under this administration is a far outcry from what one desires. Look at study conducted by the mut on the college reform and see for yourself how much consulted the teachers feel. The latter are suffering from reform fatigue. That's for sure!
Paul Borg
Jan 31st, 19:18
Scholarships for Veterinarians studying abroad were brought down from a promised 3 years to 1 year. I guess we have to fork out the extra 32000eu cause Malta is still waiting for a Veterinarian faculty at the University. We need help not paroli fil vojt.
Charles Massa
Jan 31st, 19:10
Imma min jitkellem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ministru li tahta partita studenti tilfu scholarships mil EU
francis Buhagiar
Jan 31st, 18:51
We are still waiting to get the increment mention in the last agreement MS.Dolores.
patrick cutajar
Jan 31st, 18:32
The current primary education system is a whole mess. Muscat's ideas are a breath of fresh air to all involved and those who have at heart the education of our kids.
carmelo buttigieg
Jan 31st, 18:20
Dolores Cristina should be the last one to speak about education and where the money was coming from..remember Erasmus and the whole mess around it ?And yet until now nobody has shouldered any sort of responsibility.
Eddy Privitera
Jan 31st, 18:13
On gonziPN's Tablets proposal, Dolores Cristina had said that she was not present for the press cinference because she is not a candidate for the election. Is she a candidate today once she has commented on the PL's proposals on education ? Any criticism of the PL's proposals on education would certainly have been made by the MUT. Instead there has not been criticism but praise !
Giov DeMartino
Jan 31st, 18:30
One thing is certain. It was a labour government which one day extended school hours. And more of the same can be expected.
Conrad V. Busuttil
Jan 31st, 18:52
@ DeMartino,
Fact - Labour Govts introduced an education system that guaranteed teaching to a much higher volume of students till age 15.
Fact - Labour Govts made free education accessible to all.
Fact - Labour Govts instilled national teaching standards of qualification across all schools being Public, Private or Church run.
Now go on and grumble about the means to the end, DeMartino
Eddy Privitera
Jan 31st, 19:00
Guov DeMartino: Quite obviously you had no argument, so BACK YOU GO TO THE PAST ! Don't you believe Eddie Fenech Adami any more ????
George Cassar
Jan 31st, 19:12
@ Giov DeMartino
You seem to forget who shortened the school hours! I distinctly remember primary school day ending at 4:00pm! Have you forgotten this, or you chose to?
Mario Mercieca
Jan 31st, 19:21
Labour Goverment and Education don`t match
touched stipends, Parrinu, numerus clausus, closed church schools, closed mcast, teachers strike..
If its not enough Vote Labour
Kenneth Williams
Jan 31st, 19:29
@ Giov de martino.
Zgur li qadd ma kienu stressjati daqs illum it teachers. L idea tal kulleggi gabet lit teachers skrivani. Izjed jiktby x ghamlu milli jghallmu.
Giov DeMartino
Jan 31st, 19:54
@Busuttil.Yes they raised the school leaving age so that there wouldn't be an increase in the number of unemployed.
labour ruined our educ system. The way they treated the teaching profession; their war against private and church schools, their hatred for teachers...........
There were some 800 university students...today there are some 12 thousand. Your past is so obscene.
Mario Camilleri
Jan 31st, 23:04
DeMartino,
How could you say such things like Labour hated teachers, Labour ruined education? The most vigilant struggle Dom Mintoff had to deal with wasn't only the physical poverty which escalated under Borg Olivier but the intellectual poverty. People were left in the dark and uneducated so that they could be only the servants to the rich and elite. The greatest was challenge, illumination.
Giov DeMartino
Feb 1st, 08:23
@ George Cassar. You are mistakenif you think that labour shortyened the school hours. Before the teachers' strike and before these teachers were ordered by the regime to sign a declaration that they would not obey their union's directives (anzi ma baghtuhomx ghand S Rita) after the schools were manned by all sorts of persons, inc criminals.....the school hours had to be shortened. Cont.
Giov DeMartino
Feb 1st, 08:26
Sch hours had to be shortened by force. After the teachers were humiliated, threatened, assaulted, transferred en bloc they were allowed to go back to their classrooms. The regime realized that if schools finish at 2.30, WITHOUT SHORTENING THE SCH HOURS, the miser realized that he would ,be saving supervision money. And that is what he did. Mhux ghax qalbu harqitu ghal xi hadd.
Simon Scerri
Feb 1st, 10:16
So Eddy Privitera do not comment, cause you are not a candidate , with the same argument!!! int bis-serjeta???
Giov DeMartino
Feb 1st, 17:06
Mario Camilleri: Labour not only hated teachers, but waged a long campaign against them. Just see how he treated them when they decided to strike, how they were treated by the regime when they had to agree to an unconditional and humiliating surrender....If you are old enough I need not say more, but if you are under forty let me know and I will give you all the facts. Labour hated whoever .....
Giov DeMartino
Feb 1st, 17:11
Eddy asked me and I answer him: Do I believe EFA anymore? What a cheek. Some time ago I received an anonymous letter in which the coward wrote two whole pages saying nothing but vilifying EFA even mentioning lying under oath etc etc. Pity Eddy Privitera has no idea what this coward said about EFA. I was stupid enough to believe this coward and so I no longer believe EFA. Do YOU believe him E
Giov DeMartino
Feb 1st, 18:17
@Kenneth Kienu stressjati t-teachers meta kienu locked out u ghal xahrejn shah ir-regim ipprova joqtolhom bil-guh; meta bellaghhom transfer anki ghal Ghawdex; meta kellhom il-genituri jduru fl-iskejjel ma' saqajhom; meta kellhom jiddikjaraw bil-miktub li ma jistghux jistrajkjaw, meta r-regim kien zammilhom l-arretrati li kien tahom Borg Olivier, meta l-Pres ta' Malta kienet tghajjarhom ........
DUNCAN FABRI
Jan 31st, 18:10
Jekk il-pajjiz ma jkunx imexxi bi traskuragni u ma nitilfux fondi mil-unjoni ewropeja kif gara that din il-ministru, dawn it-tip ta inizjattivi jistghu isiru. Jew meta rridu ninsew il-fondi mil-EU!
Joe Tanti
Jan 31st, 18:03
Teachers can always go to summer schools to enhance their knowledge. On second thoughts they can be obliged to do so after all they are getting payed during summer for just fanning their arm pits.
Reuben Cutajar
Jan 31st, 18:43
I'm sure you wouldn't last a week teaching in a real classroom Mr. Tanti. You should show some respect for the people who made you and educated decent person!!!... unless your teachers failed and left you uneducated and indecent...
George Mangion
Jan 31st, 19:13
Careful what you say. Teachers are teaching your children or your friiends' children. No one is asking you to go for training in your own holidays.
Naomi Attard Borg
Jan 31st, 20:16
Can you please specify which 'Summer Schools' offer a Masters degree or a Phd?? Secondly we get PAID during Summer not PAYED!! If you envy us teachers who according to you, spend summers fanning our armpits, then read a B.Ed, and you'll be able to fan your armpits as well!!
Franco Farrugia
Feb 1st, 11:03
Mr Tanti, please stop talking bull!
Joseph Portelli
Jan 31st, 17:57
ma nafx dawn il-gurnalisti tal-labour kemm se jdumu sejrin biha din il-mistoqsija tal-€500 fil-gimgha!! dawn jafu li jekk Muscat ikun Prim Ministru, se jkollu kabinett hafna akbar minn dak li kellu Gonzi. Kulhadd jaf li ministru wiehed bl-istaff kollu tal-ministeru ifisser ferm aktar minn €500 fil-gimgha!!
Simon spiteri
Jan 31st, 18:10
Well said finally a person who can think and draw up conclusions not follow trend like sheep
Mary-Grace Borg
Jan 31st, 19:31
nahseb li jkollok iktar nies iffukati fuq ix xoghol u accountable tkun worthed bahnan
Christine Vella
Jan 31st, 20:02
Dawk ta Gonzi kinu mehudin bil-mohbi. Dik id-differenza habib. Serq mit-taxxi tieghi u tieghek :)
David C
Feb 1st, 00:21
Mary-Grace Borg...Bahnan? vera? Is-suggett ta dan l-artiklu l-edukazjoni u l-ghalliema..Nahseb ma tafx hafna fuqhom dawn hux? U nzid ma li qal is-sur Portelli...JM qatt ma qal li mhux ha johoda. Ha jwaqqaf board u "tiddecidi" jek johduhix jew le. biex nies bhalek li jibilaw kollox tkun minghalik mux hada wahdu imma tawilu.. u jaf flok 500 jihu 600..tkun gimmick ohra u int tidefendih.
D. Tanti
Feb 1st, 01:05
@ Mary-Grace Borg: qabel ma tgħajjar lil ħaddieħor baħnan... it's "worth it" NOT "worthed"
S Farrugia
Jan 31st, 17:56
The new educ system is a real let down! Ms Cristina created a whole mess, and now she's leaving office leaving behind a trail of bad decisions only to be faced by disgruntling teachers, and students who are being left behind.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jan 31st, 17:54
"At an average of 36.3 per cent, Malta is the third worst performer in terms of reading literacy in the EU and is just behind Romania (40.4 per cent) and Bulgaria (41 per cent), an EU conference on ‘Literacy for All’ held under the EU’s Cypriot Presidency heard this week in Nicosia."
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jan 31st, 17:51
She asks: how much the proposal would cost and how it would be implemented without disrupting schools. So its fair to ask her how much is she is paying back each month and how long wil it take her to pay it back?
m. borg (slm)
Jan 31st, 18:16
How much EU funds she managed to muck up for the maltese students.
Mr Joe Micallef
Jan 31st, 17:51
The sabbatical proposal is a moron proposal which will introduce acrimony amongst teachers. It will be a great opportunity for the MLP to practice its endemic love for political discrimination.
Mary Borg
Jan 31st, 17:58
Just like it is being done with scholarships by the current PN?
George Cassar
Jan 31st, 19:10
I'm sure you know a lot about these historical facts but may I remind you that the PN has seen to it to fill (almost) every administrative position with loyal blue-eyed boys. Take PBS, all authorities (TM case in point). Then remind us how long ago these things happened under Labour. You may also remember the transfer scenario of post-1987. You surely must, since you remember a lot.
S Farrugia
Jan 31st, 17:49
Ms Cristina, should go around the schools to see with her own eyes the disaster she created in the educ dept. Why don't you go visit some sec schools, and talk to the students, maybe even to the parents to hear abt loads of probs we have to encounter each day. The new system is a disaster. Even teachers say so. Shame on you. If only you are truly reachable, you would a different kind of truth.
J Grech
Jan 31st, 22:26
Hekk hu! F'din il-leġislatura darba biss ġiet l-iskola tagħna. Taf għalfejn? Le, mhux biex tikkonsulta magħna, le, ma tarax! Giet ma' Gonzi jaqtgħu zigarella u jippuppaw quddiem il-kameras tat-televiżjoni! Kif ma tisthux?
M Grima
Jan 31st, 17:46
"Questioned about the parliamentary honoraria which ministers had received, Ms Cristina said an amount was deducted from her salary every month as part of the refund and she would pay up to the last penny"
Can the minister inform us how much is being deducted every month and in which century she would repay her dues.
R. Balzan
Jan 31st, 17:43
With all due respect, Ms Cristina is the last person on earth who should talk about education matters in Malta. She made a holy mess of her ministry when she was responsible and as a result we hold in Malta the unenvious record for both early school leavers and illiteracy among young persons.
Mr Joe Micallef
Jan 31st, 17:54
Balzan you really ought to consider leaving your bubble! But I must warn you that the real world may be too much for you to handle.
R. Balzan
Jan 31st, 18:39
@ Joe Micallef - my bubble is red and transparent. Yours is blue and opaque. And I've been handling the real world for all of 70 years. Can you say that much?
Mr Joe Micallef
Jan 31st, 18:55
Balzan I do not live in a bubble and at your age one would have hoped that you understood that living outside is so much better!
Also you will vividly recall what MLP means by discussions with teachers!
Mary Borg
Feb 1st, 07:28
Mr. Micallef: Your posts are a definite opaque blue bubble. If you fail to see that, then the problem is much more serious. The fact that you want to lump past mistakes onto Dr Muscat's shoulders says it all. He has recognised past mistakes and said that he has no problem at all with past MLP cases to be brought to court. Can you say the same about GonziPN? MLP doesn't exist anymore.
M Grima
Jan 31st, 17:42
Dolores Cristina should ask the teachers if they were involved in the unorthodox decisions which her ministry has taken during the past legislature. She should, if she is sport enough accept to debate with Mr. John Bencini, ex MUT president. I am pretty sure that the people would exactly learn more about the coalition which she mentioned.
M Grima
Jan 31st, 17:35
For someone who was responsible for the EU to withhold funds intended for students educational programmes Dolores Cristina should keep her mouth shut. The MUT have had nothing during these last 5 years but conflicts with the eduction department for not involving them in their bizarre decisions.
Mary Borg
Jan 31st, 17:33
What a load of crap! Teachers were never consulted regarding the new reforms. They were just lumped onto the teachers and whoever complained about the real class issues, that needed to be addressed but never actually were, was just gagged and given a cliché answer. Giving a centralised half-baked plan where none of the real experts (teachers) could contribute with his/her ideas is no consultation
Lucienne Spiteri
Jan 31st, 17:31
what will happen if 500 teachers decide to use sabbatical in the same year? jibdew idahhlu n nies mid djar bla kwalifici bhalma ghamel il-labour meta kien hemm l-istrajk tat-teachers ghax nispiccaw minghajr teachers? u meta jigu lura dawk li jkunu bis sabbatical dawk li jkunu dahlu flokhom x se jigri minnhom?
R. Balzan
Jan 31st, 17:38
@ Lucienne Spiteri - ghalfejn qed iggib id-dinja fit-tarf fuq proposta pozittiva? Ghal kull sitwazzjoni hemm soluzzjoni - basta l-affarijiiet isiru b'konsultazzjoni ma l-istakeholders kollha.
A. Schembri
Jan 31st, 17:41
You have hit the nail on its head Lucienne.... Spot on !
Joseph Mifsud
Jan 31st, 17:42
Do you imagine 500 teachers all taking a sabbatical year to study????? If thats the case then we really have poor teachers....I'm sure not.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jan 31st, 17:55
Why do we have to use ridiculous reaosning like this? Is it not obvious that a repsonsible minister of education would not allow 500 teachers to go on sabbatical at the same time? What nonsense - unless you think Christina would have done this.
S Farrugia
Jan 31st, 17:57
Kapaci tkunu pessimisti biss! Tghid ghala?
Reuben Cutajar
Jan 31st, 18:53
Qatt ma smajt b'temporary (definite) employment Ms. Spiteri?
George Cassar
Jan 31st, 19:06
With all due respect to women, Lucienne, do you know what happens when teacher-mothers avail themselves of parental leave for one, two or three years? This will be the same! This is just a chance for Malta to have BETTER qualified teachers - I hope you'll agree that more teachers with a Master's level (as in Finland) would be more beneficial to our children? No?
Joe Busuttil
Jan 31st, 20:28
Go on Lucienne,why not go the whole way and ask if ALL the teachers decide to use sabbatical in the same year? Use your common sense please and don't rubbish a perfectly sound idea.
George Cassar
Jan 31st, 17:19
What the Minister failed to mention is that there are already measures where teachers/other employees can benefit from sabbatical years (unpaid). The problem is that if one already has a family these sabbatical years are in the majority "without pay" so quite difficult to pursue. Sponsorships amount to around 2500/year. If people are given a choice of paid study leave many would take the offer.
Peter Simpson
Jan 31st, 17:18
Ghandha ragun is-sinjura Dolores Cristina tistaqsi kif se jigu l-flus, ghax hi ta l-Erazmus, telfithom lil eluf ta studenti u ghalkemm hafna saqsew meta kif u x'fatta dawn se jigu ghand l-istudenti; baqghu bla konferenza stampa, bla spejagazzjoni u bla flus!
P Micallef
Jan 31st, 18:16
Ghall-izbalji taghha u ta' binha li kien responsabbli mill-programmi tal-EU hallas il-Permanent Secretary li fi kliemu stess, f'artiklu li kiteb fis-Sunday Times, qal li kien li scapegoat ta' din it-tbazwira. Kien ikun ahjar ghal Dolores Cristina li ma tkellmet xejn. Imma ma setghetx ghaliex hekk kienet imgeghla taghmel minn Tal-Pieta.
Franco Farrugia
Jan 31st, 17:17
Ms Cristina, sabbaticals are given in most European countries, without disruption - they can therefore be done here in Malta too. The important thing is to have a large pool of temporary teachers.
Regarding the parliamentary honoraria, the sooner we stop talking about it, the better for all concerned!
Gorg Sciberras
Jan 31st, 17:43
You cannot be serious. I live in Sweden, which is one of the most socialist countries in Europe and they do not give paid one year sabbaticals to teachers. I would think that this is the exception rather than the rule. You say that it is important to have a large pool of temporary teachers - do you buy these at a supermarket as I do not see a large pool of unemployed teachers ready to jump in.
Mary Borg
Jan 31st, 17:57
@ Mr. Sciberras: You would be amazed how many teachers are unemployed or are taking under-qualified jobs!
Mr Joe Micallef
Jan 31st, 18:24
Borg, I thought MLP was against precarious jobs!
Reuben Cutajar
Jan 31st, 18:55
There is a large number of unemployed teachers in Malta... many graduate a simply cannot find employment as the market is saturated. Dr.Muscat's proposal could give a chance for newly qualified teachers to find some employment at least.
Naomi Attard Borg
Jan 31st, 20:22
Kieku hawn hafna qualified teachers unemployed, zgur ma jkunx hawn skejjel li jkollhom supply teachers!! Nahseb ghandek zball meta tghid li hawn hafna teachers unemployed ta Mary Borg!!
Matthew Psaila
Feb 1st, 00:39
Naomi Attard mid-dehra m'ghandekx idea u gejt tparla.... jien ghadni kif gradwajt bhala ghalliem, hafna minn shabi ma sabux xol (dawn gradwaw sekondarja), u spiccaw jaghlmu supply fil-primarja, ghx ghall-informazzjoni tieghek (biex titghallem ftit) jekk ttghallem is-suggett jew l-area li ma tkunx speccjalizzajt fih ma tistax tidhol bhala regular teacher, u ghalhekk tispicca supply teacher, b'kuntk
Mary Borg
Feb 1st, 07:32
(1) The fact that there is a shortage in certain posts doesn't mean that there are no unemployed teachers or as I said teachers taking under-qualified posts. There are many teachers of particular subjects on waiting lists. There are other subjects where the teachers are on maximum load and no new staff are being employed to save money.
Mary Borg
Feb 1st, 07:36
(2) GonziPN would rather have an exhausted staff and a pool of supply non-qualifued teachers who work on temporary basis in order to pay less than have a larger pool of qualified experienced teachers who obviously need to be paid more. That is what people / parents should see and not the newly built schools.
Franco Farrugia
Feb 1st, 11:01
Mr Sciberras - I realise your agenda, so to comment further to your erroneous remarks is futile.
Please choose the reason of your report below: