MUT fears added bureaucracy

The proposed reform of the education system will amplify bureaucracy unnecessarily, when fine-tuning the existing structures would have been a better alternative, according to the Malta Union of Teachers.

Reacting to the government's document For All Children to Succeed: A New Network Organisation for Quality Education in Malta, the MUT said it had expected to contribute to this concept, seeing that it had a finger on the pulse of the education system.

In a press conference, deemed as one of the most important in recent years, MUT president John Bencini insisted that the union was not scared of change and it was foursquare behind the government to achieve this, as long as effectiveness in teaching and learning at a classroom level was increased.

"The MUT has never shied away from change and we have been agents of change. We will give our total cooperation as long as there is an increase in support at classroom level, a reduction in stress and help in the transition from one level to another, as well as a widening of opportunities for all students in all schools to participate fully in life-long leaning," Mr Bencini said.

This attitude was welcomed by Education Minister Louis Galea, who spoke during another press conference, held to react to the MUT's stand on the document.

"I consider the union's reaction as a good platform for discussion to bring about reform and I note with satisfaction that it is entering this debate with an open mind," he said.

When asked if fine-tuning the existent structures would have been a better option, Dr Galea replied: "If we were satisfied with simple fine-tuning we wouldn't have gone through such a painstaking process. I'm convinced that it's impossible to reach our objectives within the existent structures".

While the MUT mentioned a number of points in the document where it failed to see eye-to-eye with the government, Dr Galea said he would rather look at the positive side of things and work towards achieving goals around the table.

Among the bones of contention is the proposal that the director generals of the Malta Education Directorate and the Educational Services Directorate both be appointed by the Education Minister.

"We are against this because such appointments will be purely political and the MUT cannot and will not give its support," Mr Bencini insisted.

It also felt that recruitment and promotions in the public service should remain under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission. It questioned whether the proposal that every college will have a legal status would mean that separate collective agreements were no longer relevant.

The MUT lamented that despite having drawn up numerous reports and memoranda on the development of education in Malta, none of this information had been included in the exhaustive list of references published in the document.

It also questioned what had happened to the promise made by the government in 1996 to introduce a teachers' council.

When asked about this later in the day Dr Galea insisted that there was still scope for such a council and it would be introduced at the opportune moment.

The union was also against the participation of "non-educationalists who will dominate and steer the profession and the Maltese education system".

Mr Bencini said the union welcomed the significance of networking, but the document did not provide evidence that the changes to the present structures for the setting up of school networks would stimulate more value to the pupils' learning.

He added that Dr Galea had gone on record saying that the document was now subject to consultations and negotiations.

"It is sincerely hoped this will materialise. The MUT is prepared to enter into a serious debate with an open mind and a commitment to offer its full cooperation with the understanding that this document as presented is not a fait accompli as some sectors of the media are portraying it to be," Mr Bencini concluded.

In reply to this Dr Galea reiterated his commitment to open the debate with all those involved, including the MUT, towards achieving the widest consensus possible for the implementation of this reform.