The Education Ministry has launched an investigation into claims by the Malta Union of Teachers of inappropriate conduct during interviews.
Malta Union of Teachers president Kevin Bonello said earlier today the union received various complaints that, in some interviews, female applicants were asked personal questions which are “arguably illegal”.
“Questions like: How do you expect to carry out this role properly when you have two children to look after? or like: Do you intend to have children in the coming months soon after an eventual appointment?,” he wrote in a letter sent to the Education Ministry and the Public Service Commission. The letter has been uploaded on the union’s website.
The ministry said in a statement this evening it launched an immediate investigation into the serious allegations being put forward.
"If proved legitimate, the alleged conduct is completely unacceptable to the ministry; steps will be taken against those behaving in such a way."The permanent secretary of the ministry has sent an official letter to the MUT requesting them to collaborate and substantiate their claims so that a proper investigation may take place.
"Until today, the Ministry had never received any reports by individuals in this regard. However these allegations will be treated very seriously as the government is fully committed to having a fair and inclusive selection process" it said.
Earlier, the Office of the Prime Minister requested an explanation into the complaints.
It promised to take action should they prove to be true saying such behaviour was "unacceptable".
In the letter Mr Bonello says that teachers interviewing for various posted had complained about methodologies adopted by various interviewing boards.
“The way interviews have reportedly been carried out is in short, amateurish, unprofessional, demeaning to interviewees and therefore, due to these facts, the outcomes of these interviews will always remain questionable to the detriment of successful applicants,” he wrote.
Members said they were being interrupted while giving answers, they were told to hurry up, and some were contradicted and belittled while giving their answers. Other members were shouted at and told they were wrong during the interview itself.
“One particular member even reported that while answering the questions put forward one interviewer allegedly replied to his mobile phone and held a conversation,” he wrote.
He called on the ministry and the Public Service Commission to intervene and make sure these practices were addressed with urgency.
NISA LABURISTI REQUEST INVESTIGATION
The women's branch of the Labour Party, Nisa Laburisti, said in a statement such questions were not acceptable during an interview and called on the government to investigate.
President Claudette Abela Baldacchino said that what was being claimed was against government policy. Such questions were discriminatory and should never be asked during job interviews, she said.
Ms Baldacchino said that not only were such questions illegal, they were enforcing stereotypes in society.