The Malta Union of Teachers this afternoon called on the government not to charge students who wished to follow vocational subjects at secondary schools.

Union president John Bencini said at a press conference that the government had reached an agreement with a British agency, BTEC, on the holding of the courses, and it appeared that students would have to register and pay a fee to follow such courses.

"This is the first time in the history of state education that children have to pay to follow certain subjects," Mr Bencini said

The union, he added, was appealing for this to be decision to be reversed.

He said that the union agreed with the introduction of vocational subjects, but it was a mistake to introduce charges.

He said the minister in a statement on Monday had confirmed the union's complaint that it had not been consulted as plans for the new courses were prepared.

STALEMATE IN TALKS

Mr Bencini said that talks with the government on a sectoral agreement for teachers had reached a stalemate because of disagreement on the financial package which, for the union, was 'absolutely unacceptable'. He said the union had been moderate and responsible in its requests on the basis of the current financial situation.

The MUT was not closing its doors to further discussion and he hoped the situation could be resolved by September, Mr Bencini said.

Franklin Barbara, MUT general secretary, said this had been a turbulent scholastic year which had featured industrial action because of issues going back to 2007. He said the union was seeking proper consultation from the authorities from the initial stages of any initiative. He said there was also need for greater efficiency and less bureaucracy to give teachers what was their due.

He also called for the Public Service Commission to be constituted as soon as possible.

GOVERNMENT DENIAL

The Ministry of Education in a statement this morning in reply to comments by Labour spokesman Evarist Bartolo denied that there would be any charges for the courses and said the only charges would be for exams.

MUT REACTION

The MUT in reply said that in its statement last Monday, the Education Ministry said:

‘The registration for each subject for the three year certification course amounts to 110 Sterling Pounds. Social cases will be exempted from this fee as in the case of SEC examination’

The ministry was here refering for course registration. Yet today the ministry said that this was the payment required from students who chose to sit for the exams.

The MUT asked which version was the correct one.

See also

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100705/local/mut-hits-out-at-secrecy-in-introduction-of-vocational-subjects-in-schools