A Malta Union of Teachers directive to inclusion coordinators was detrimental to children with special needs and a conciliation meeting has been requested the Education Ministry said.

It said in a statement it was surprised with the MUT’s attitude in giving this directive without trying to seek solutions through discussions in a spirit of collaboration and social dialogue.

The ministry said the MUT was alleging that an inclusion coordinator who was its members had been subject to a degrading attitude at a school in Ghaxaq resulting in a stressful situation. The union said this was leaving a negative effect on the health of this person and in spite of reports nothing had been done.

The ministry said that the director general for educational services wrote to the MUT telling the union it did not have a right to issue such a directive and asked for it to be withdrawn to avoid ulterior action.

As a reaction, the MUT directed all inclusion coordinators not to work at the Ghaxaq school.

The Educational Services directorate, the ministry said, did not threaten or give the union to understand that disciplinary action against the person concerned was being contemplated against the coordinator, who was even requested to submit a report on the matter for a remedy to be sought.

The directorate requested the management and personnel office in the office of the Prime Minister to call a conciliation meeting in the interest of the students.