The Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) has described as 'humiliating' a proposal that would require applicants for teaching positions to present certification to prove they are not registered sex offenders.

The proposal is included in a White Paper entitled 'Effective recruitment and selection procedures for people working with minors'. See http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150709/local/prospective-teachers-may-have-to-prove-they-are-not-sex-offenders.575925

The MUT said that while it agreed with rigorous recruitment procedures, it disagreed with additional red tape. Furthermore, screening should be made of all professionals in contact with children, and not just teachers.

It said it was totally against treating professional educators as suspicious in the first instance and on having to prove themselves clean.

"Such an attitude is totally unheard of in all professions and the Union expects the Government to respect the professional status of all educators in a concrete manner rather than invent humiliating processes."

It said that legislation connected to the offenders register should be clarified and simplified so that the courts could inform employers concerned immediately should an employee be listed. On the other hand the employer should be allowed access to the offenders' register.

The union said that for years it had been making various suggestions to protect minors who have severe problems at their home or at their community.

"It is hoped that this legislation includes moves to tackle child abuse at home and within the communities that may range from neglect to sex abuse and all the variants in between.

The union said that while general improvements to the system would be welcome, structures were already in place especially in relation to warranting, ethics, boards of discipline and audits at educational institutions. However there was a need to invest in more resources for the purposes of enforcement and quality assurance.