There are currently 27 supply teachers at the migrant learners unit, the highest number of all schools by a wide margin.
The supply teachers were recruited after the number of regular teachers at the unit was not enough to cater for the 500 students in primary schools all over the island following a specialised induction programme, a government spokeswoman told the Times of Malta.
The Education Ministry spokeswoman was replying to questions after figures tabled in Parliament by Education Minister Evarist Bartolo, in reply to a PQ by Nationalist MP Clyde Puli, showed that the highest number of supply teachers was at the migrant learners unit.
An increased demand for educators
“The migrant learners unit co-ordinates the induction programme for migrant students who enter the education system with no knowledge of English or Maltese.
“The service is offered in a number of primary schools through induction classes within the same primary schools,” the spokeswoman said.
Asked if the high number of supply teachers suggested that educators were unwilling to take up teaching such subjects, the spokeswoman insisted that “as is always the case for all subjects”, supply teachers are recruited when the supply of regular teachers “did not meet the demand”.
“Since this service is a new one to cater for the latest realities being faced by our society, there has been an increased demand for educators in this area which inevitably lead to the recruitment of supply teachers,” she said.
The spokeswoman added that in one particular college, “due to space limitations”, the programme is run in “an annexe of the primary school”, pointing out that the service is offered at various schools.
In total, there are currently 221 supply teachers at various colleges across the country. Apart from the number of supply educators at the migrant learners unit, there are also 19 supply teachers at the Alternative Learning Programme at the St Thomas More College in Paola.
A breakdown of all subjects also shows that the majority of supply teachers, 58, taught primary students while a further 30 taught physical education.