St Aloysius’ College in Birkirkara.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 who are calling for more consultation.
The Church Schools Committee is reacting to the criticism from the Malta Union of Teachers in the wake of a draft document on the identity and mission of Catholic schools.
Earlier this month, the MUT, followed by the General Workers’ Union and the Malta Humanist Association, expressed concern over media 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, within the Private Schools Association, yesterday spoke of its position with The Sunday Times of Malta about the rash leaking of this document.
“The committee stresses the importance of the contribution of heads of Church schools in the final version of the document that has suddenly and prematurely appeared in the media.
Malta Union of Teachers to meet bishops tomorrow
“They are the most intimately involved with these evolving institutions that educate more than one third of children,” they said.
The committee represents 52 schools – each with its own character – and this diversity needed to be recognised and respected by trade unions and the government. “The MUT is apparently not familiar with and appreciative enough of such diversity but considers all Church schools to have the same ethos, charisma and leadership models,” the committee added.
There were many collective 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.
As heads of schools they were responsible of passing on each school’s Catholic heritage and parents chose to entrust their children within their care. This right, based on Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as theConstitution, had to be safeguarded, they noted.
The heads called for more time to reflect on the document and to provide recommendations.
“Excessive responses to a document, which has not yet even been discussed properly by heads, are, to say the least, not helpful,” it said, urging stakeholders to respect the “proper procedures of real dialogue and consultation”.
When contacted, 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.
The Church Schools Committee is made up Fr Jimmy Bartolo, Fr Silvio Bezzina, Fr Eric Cachia, Daniela Camilleri Sacco, Fr Mark Ellul, Mariuccia Fenech, Reuben Mifsud and Mariella Vella.