The Malta Union of Teachers has presented its memorandum on education to political parties contesting the elections, in which it is calling for a comprehensive school system that advances all pupils from early childhood onwards, without segregation – effectively abolishing the 11+ examination which segregates children at Lyceums and secondary schools.
The MUT said this was “vital from an educational as well as a democratic perspective. A comprehensive school system promotes tolerance, diversity and peace, as witnessed in the Nordic countries who have a long tradition of a sound comprehensive school system.”
It also warned of an impending teacher shortage:
“Malta will soon be facing a teacher crisis. The number of prospective teachers is seriously dwindling. The MUT is concerned about the lack of teachers graduating and calls on authorities to explore incentive possibilities.”
It also said that Malta’s “exam-oriented culture” was enhancing individualism but undermining collegiality, social cooperation, team building and solidarity.
The MUT also complained of a large number of students attending secondary schools who are not benefiting from the educational process.
“The number of unmotivated students is a cause for concern and teachers are facing unacceptable pupil behaviour which is becoming intolerable. The time has come to analyse how the large sums of money invested by the Government in this sector are yielding fruit. More vocational training needs to be integrated in the colleges’ curriculum thus motivating those students who lack academic competences.”
Referring to working conditions, the union said the State should ensure that the professional development of all teachers in all schools is suitably catered for. “There is a need to set up an independent structure to investigate matters such as harassment of teachers at work and offer them support.”
It said teacher stress and burnout are the major occupational illness among teachers. “There is little acknowledgement among policy-makers of the pervasiveness of stress in teaching and its impact on the quality of teachers’ personal lives, on their classroom practice and on the school community in general, and national strategies are still lacking in a number of countries including Malta.”
The MUT has also called for lower classroom numbers. “The number of students in class is still too high and does not leave room for individualised attention as recommended in the National Curriculum Framework.”
It added that the MUT was against longer hours for schools. “Teachers are not baby-sitters and school is not a baby-sitting service. The idea that schools should open for longer hours to accommodate working parents is unacceptable.”
On childhood education, the MUT urged the State not to “pluck children away from their home environment prematurely, and for long hours, as this can prove to be detrimental to the mental and physical development of children. Early education must therefore complement, and not substitute, education at home. In kindergarten classes the child must be helped to develop holistically through play. Hence, the importance of having full qualified Kindergarten Assistants.”
It welcomed government’s intention that with effect from scholastic year 2010-2011, entry into the grade of Kindergarten Assistants shall be open to persons in possession of a Diploma or a higher qualification in early childhood education. It said however that the number of children in Kindergarten classes needs to be reduced.
Its other proposals concerned vocational education and the Malta College for Arts, Technology and Science, the Institute of Tourism Studies, higher secondary and university education, special needs, and adult education.