The Opposition has given notice in parliament of a motion to strike down a legal notice that changed the set-up of the Institute for Education into an agency.

The Opposition complained that while the institute will continue to have, as its aims, the formation of the teaching profession and the continuous training of teachers, it would no longer be autonomous, but the extended arm of the minister of education.

Previously, the institute was run by a board that included all the stakeholders, whereas as an agency, the institute will now be under the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Education.

“The institute has been practically turned into a government department, instead of an independent, autonomous body, the Opposition said.

It described the government’s actions as regressive since it was excluding the stakeholders from the institution set up to create a vision for education and schools.

The motion was signed by the shadow minister for education Therese Comodini Cachia, Opposition deputy leader Mario de Marco and whip David Agius.