Poorly-paid school counsellors call for conclusion of collective agreement talks
Counsellors in schools provide critical mental health, emotional, and psychological support within the education sector'
The Malta Association for the Counselling Profession (MACP) has called on the educational authorities to expedite negotiations on a new collective agreement that accurately reflects the value, expertise, and responsibilities of counsellors in schools.
Counsellors working in colleges in Malta and Gozo have been taking industrial action ordered by the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) for more than a month to press for the satisfactory conclusion of talks.
"While counsellors remain profoundly committed to their professional, ethical, and legal responsibilities toward the students and families they serve, the current lack of public and institutional awareness regarding these actions is creating unsustainable pressure at the workplace. The ongoing directives—which include refraining from compiling specific administrative reports, pausing new case referrals, and abstaining from psychosocial and case-review meetings—are a direct effort to shed light on the systemic challenges currently facing the profession," the association said.
"Counsellors in schools provide critical mental health, emotional, and psychological support within the education sector, yet their working conditions, professional standing, and systemic resources have not kept pace with the growing complexities of the student population. Counsellors in schools are highly qualified, warranted professionals who act as a vital safety net for students. However, safeguarding our students' wellbeing cannot come at the expense of our own professional recognition and systematic failures. We are taking this stand to ensure that the realities, heavy caseloads, and systemic challenges faced by counsellors in schools are fully understood and addressed."
The MACP is calling for a capacity-building exercise to highlight the critical shortage of human resources within the counselling team. "Staff-to-client ratios of 1:1,200 -and sometimes higher - clearly demonstrate that mental health is not being given the priority it deserves," the association said.