Ministry, MUT holding weekly meetings on allowances issue

The Education Ministry and the Malta Union of Teachers are holding weekly meetings to discuss the MUT's claim for allowances in view of additional responsibilities given to teachers.

Education Minister Dolores Cristina said today that while the government had found no anomalies in the allowances given to teachers as compared to other sections of the public service. the meetings were discussing the various responsibilities given to the teachers with a view of identifying a way forward.

Speaking at a press conference to mark the second year of the legislature, the minister said that the number of students who continued their studies beyond compulsory secondary school increased by 4% last year over the year before.

She said the Education Department would this week launch a campaign to encourage more people to use public libraries. The reading rate was considered to be low and her ministry would be investing in the libraries and encouraging more people to use them, the minister said.

Referring to PBS, the minister said the state broadcaster would be getting a new chairman this week after incumbent Claire Vassallo Thake asked not to be re-appointed.

On social policy, the minister said that spending on social benefits had risen to €661 million, an increase of €36 million over the year before. Investigations by the Benefits Fraud Unit led to savings of over €1 million about several cases of abuse were identified.