Kindergarten assistants and supply teachers have been ordered by the Malta Union of Teachers to turn up for work two hours late on Friday in a bid to push the government to implement the agreed reforms.
"The time for discussing is over and our patience has run out. We signed the agreement to reform this sector in June 2007 and nothing has been implemented yet," MUT president John Bencini said.
He was addressing a crowded room of kindergarten assistants, supply teachers, supply kindergarten assistants and supply learning support assistants.
The directive is the first in a series intended to force the government to implement the reforms.
On October 31, the union had declared an industrial dispute with the government on a number of issues, including the delay in the publication of exam results for kindergarten assistants, the implementation of the reform agreement and a proposed addendum.
Mr Bencini said the reform offered the best for the category of kindergarten assistants and supply teachers: "We got the best deal possible and it was a great victory for us and for all of you".
Through the reform, supply teachers and kindergarten assistants can continue studying and graduate as teachers. However, the government was responsible for executing the reforms and it had "implemented absolutely nothing".
Mr Bencini said it was ironic that the Education Ministry had set up an "urgent" meeting on Wednesday, after the rally was called, when previous attempts to discuss the issue with the government proved futile.
An angry Mr Bencini criticised the government for not setting up a two-year diploma course allowing kindergarten assistants working in Year I to advance to Year II. "Before these courses start, the directives will not be lifted" he stressed.
The union also criticised what it termed as the inability of the Malta Qualifications Council to evaluate and qualify the qualifications of kindergarten assistants with experience.
"We will not wait any longer and we will protest. If the government continues doing nothing, then he can take your place in the classrooms," Mr Bencini said.