Catholic schools’ identity is in danger of being eroded by the existing collective agreement between the teachers’ union and the Church, according to heads of Church schools.

Earlier this month, the MUT, followed by the General Workers’ Union and the Malta Humanist Association, expressed concern over reports that, according to a new document, heads of Catholic schools would have to live in conformity with the Church’s teachings. This meant that Catholics who had to seek separation or were homosexual could not be considered for these top posts.

The committee in comments to The Sunday Times of Malta said there were many agreements between dioceses and teachers’ unions in other countries in which the Catholic identity, the quality and philosophy of Catholic schooling and its public perception were safeguarded by mutual consent. There was also mutual responsibility to protect, develop and enhance Catholic schooling.

“The current collective agreement between the MUT and the Church authorities in Malta shies away from this issue and is very weak on the safeguarding of the Catholic identity of our diverse schools,” the committee said. 

MUT president Kevin Bonello said the union was meeting the bishops tomorrow. The union agreed on the need to revise the election of heads of schools, but this had to be done in light of the existing collective agreement and reflect the country’s employment regulations, he said. 

More in The Sunday Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium. See also http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20141209/local/mut-humanists-protest-over-proposed-church-school-teachers-conditions-curia-reacts.547582