Education Minister Evarist Bartolo. Photo: Matthew MirabelliEducation Minister Evarist Bartolo. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo has “no problem” relinquishing his ministerial discretion and allowing a separate entity to award teachers’ warrants.

He was reacting to revelations that some 70 teachers had been given the document without having undergone any form of pedagogical or ethics training.

The Malta Union of Teachers last week recommended the setting up of a new body to hand out the warrants, as they submitted their proposals for the upcoming review of the Education Act.

Mr Bartolo said he would be taking an official position on the suggestion after receiving legal advice.

“I have no problem with this idea. Actually I think it would work. But, changing something like this could have wider implications,” he said.

All state-recognised warrants were tied up in some form of ministerial discretion, he added. Changing the process would set a precedent for all other State warranting systems.

Despite this, Mr Bartolo is looking into the possibility of drafting a legal notice to change the system for educational warrants.

“I should receive my legal advice within a few days and will be making a decision on the way forward soon,” he said.

Teachers’ warrants are currently processed by the Education Ministry, with the minister having the final say on who does and does not receive one.

The MUT, however, last week recommended they be awarded by the Council of Teaching Professionals instead after it transpired dozens of teachers were awarded warrants without the necessary training.

MUT president Kevin Bonello had told Times of Malta that more than 70 teachers had been given warrants without any pedagogical or ethics training since 2006.

The practice is made possible thanks to a grand­father clause in the Education Act. This, Mr Bonello had said, allowed the Education Minister to hand out warrants to teachers who had “reasonable experience”.

In its list of suggestions the MUT proposed the setting up of a three-tiered warranting system for teachers, lecturers and post-secondary educators, as well as educational assistants.

These would be handed out by separate sub-councils within the Council of Teaching Professionals to ensure all professionals have received the minimum training.

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