A job advert targeting teachers “with spare time on their hands” has drawn anger from some – but many others have been only too happy to apply.

The divided reaction came to an advert by ROCS Group travel agency that appeared in local media a few days ago.

A number of irritated teachers appealed to the Malta Union of Teachers to do something about the advert as it implied teachers had time on their hands, as opposed to other categories of workers.

But while saying that was not the point of the advert, and that neither did it wish to offend teachers, ROCS said it had been inundated with applications from teachers.

MUT general secretary Franklin Barbara said the union had received complaints from a number of teachers.

According to several teachers, who spoke to Times of Malta on condition of anonymity, the advert assumed they finished school at 1pm and then had the rest of the day to themselves, “completely wiping away” the hours of preparation their job involved.

“The advert reinforces the comments we are so fed up of hearing: that we work from 8am to 1pm and then spend the rest of the day relaxing, have extra holidays during the year, get a summer off work and get paid for it and so on...” one teacher said.

Mr Barbara said the union wrote to ROCS Group explaining its members’ “indignation” at the way the teaching profession was being portrayed. He said the group’s head of finance and business development, Colin Aquilina, told the union it was not the company’s intention to irritate teachers but, on the contrary, they were seeking to employ teachers because of their skills.

“While acknowledging the company’s recognition of teachers’ skills, the union still has reservations about the advert’s portrayal of the teaching profession,” Mr Barbara said.

Mr Aquilina apologised if teachers took offence. He told Times of Malta, however, “we firmly believe that teachers in particular have a very good academic background, excellent communication skills and a ‘can do’ attitude at all times in view of the various challenges they face in their classes”.

A substantial number of teachers were looking for a part-time job, he added. “As a matter of fact, the response we received in just two days is overwhelming and the positive feedback has been beyond our expectations,” he said.

Mr Aquilina said the company had received one complaint.

“Our advert clearly makes a distinction between those teachers who have no time and those who have available time and can earn extra cash.

“From our experience teachers are the number one applicants for these positions and are the most successful and reliable.”