The €32 million increase in the vote for education was welcomed by the Malta Union of Teachers which, however, also questioned whether this was enough for the implementation of the educational reform.

Church schools were to receive €34.2 million for the payment of teachers’ salaries but they were also waiting to receive €10 million in arrears backdated to 2003.

It was timely of the government to introduce a VAT refund on new development by independent school and to increase the maximum sum that could be deducted out of taxable income for individuals who paid a fee to send their children to a private school.

The MUT said it had expected the government to take measures to solve the problem of absenteeism once and for all and to encourage more students to continue with their education.

The union said that the €1.16 cost of living increase spoke for itself.

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