The Malta Union of Teachers has written to Education Minister Dolores Cristina voicing concern at budget cuts made public this week in the educational field.

It said this decision which contrasted with the minister's declarations in January that funds for education were not to be touched and were ring-fenced.

"Considering that education is addressing the one and only resource of this country, human resources, the MUT believes that these cuts proposed are detrimental not only to professionals in the education field, but also to the country and its future.

"Reflecting the position of the ETUC, of which we are members through ForUM, the decisions by European governments to introduce austerity measures, as these measures are indeed so, are not only hampering economic growth and investment but are dragging downward even further the social and personal situations of millions of workers around Europe.

"When these austerity measures are taken within the educational field the situation becomes even more alarming, especially when it appears that these cuts will be affecting institutions like the University, ITS and MCAST, as well as programmes for vulnerable children, among others."

The MUT called on the ministry to intervene for the decision to be and to make sure that the future of the country, which was based on an ever increasing demand of qualified professionals, was addressed adequately.