The Malta Union of Teachers is looking to negotiate a “radically-improved package” for educators to reverse declining numbers entering the profession.
In a statement, the MUT said that, at a time when the economy was booming, it looked forward to discussing with the government improvements in teachers’ salaries, allowances and working conditions.
The union’s calls follow statements by the Education Ministry on the drastic reduction in students following courses leading to the teaching profession at the University of Malta.
“Apart from attracting the best people to the profession, the government as the model employer and regulator, has to work to retain current educators by making sure that adequate salaries, allowances and proper conditions worthy of the educational profession are provided to all teaching grades,” the MUT said.
It said the working group set up to evaluate the teaching profession had not yet gathered momentum and would require added investment and resources to meet its terms of reference.
“Apart from this, the union is expecting that the country supports the Faculty of Education in its efforts to attract students to its respective courses while also providing new and parallel opportunities for grades that require flexible training in pedagogy to regularise their employment,” it said
Discussions between the union and the ministry have taken place on the widely-announced implementation of the learning outcomes framework (LOF), which will now be delayed to allow its implications to be discussed in the context of the sectoral agreement negotiations.
Former MUT president Kevin Bonello said earlier this year that primary schools would be some 200 teachers short in a few years’ time if immediate action was not taken.
He warned that the teaching profession was in a crisis due to “horrendous” working conditions and lack of support.
An open letter
The shortage of candidates for teaching courses yesterday prompted a concerned teacher to reach out to the Prime Minister and Education Minister Evarist Bartolo in an open letter, warning that the country would soon be “begging for new teachers”.
“The added stress of administrative work is taking away from the time and energy teachers are meant to use for teaching,” Philip Borg wrote, sharing the letter on Facebook.
“Apart from that, teachers deserve way more than the mere crumbs from the sizeable cake of the strong economy which Malta, through good luck and hard work, is now enjoying.”
Mr Borg said later he had been contacted by Mr Bartolo who offered to meet to discuss the concerns and said: “We want to improve the conditions of teachers as well as reducing any waste of time so that they can concentrate on teaching. This is our commitment and we will work to achieve it.”