Updated 5pm

Government is offering teachers more than five per cent wage increase that has been reported in parts of the media, the Education Minister has said.

Speaking to reporters this morning outside the Seminary school in Rabat, Mr Bartolo agreed that more needs to be done to attract teachers to the sector, following a “haemorrhage” of educators from the profession.

Mr Bartolo also said that reports that the government offered less than a five per cent increase in wages over five years were untrue, and more attractive conditions would be offered to educators in the field.

The Malta Union of Teachers has ordered teachers and learning support assistants to go on strike on November 8, after financial proposals by the ministry did not meet their expectations.

Mr Bartolo said he wanted a concilatory meeting with the MUT and that the government and union were not at loggerheads.

In a statement issued later in the day, the ministry fleshed out some of its proposals to teachers.

Among these are:

• Halving the amount of time teachers need to move up a salary scale
• Incentives for teachers who pursue further training
• A tripling in educators' allowances