News | Sunday, 24 May 2009

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First aid still not a requirement for teachers

James Debono
Education Minister Dolores Cristina intends to start discussions with the Malta Union of Teachers on whether a first aid certificate should be a compulsory requirement for the teaching profession.
In January, Labour MP and education spokesperson Evarist Bartolo proposed a basic knowledge of first aid as a requisite for the teaching profession. On that occasion Cristina replied that Bartolo’s proposal made sense.
But six months later, asked by Bartolo whether first aid had been made obligatory for teachers, the minister replied that the matter “will be discussed in future discussions with the union.”
According to Cristina, the matter has to be discussed with the union as it would entail a change in teachers’ working conditions.
Teachers are presently encouraged to pursue a basic first aid course offered by the Education Directorate and schools, on a voluntary basis. No statistics currently exist on the number of teachers who are qualified in first aid.
Malta Union of Teachers president John Bencini disagrees with mandatory first aid courses but says teachers should be encouraged to follow such courses. “Some teachers are scared of a drop of blood and one cannot force them to take the course,” Bencini said back in January.
Bencini also proposed that health and safety awareness should be part and parcel of teachers’ professional adjournment courses. “It would be very useful if teachers are addressed by pediatricians on how to recognise the first signs of diseases like measles to avoid contagion.”
Bartolo was prompted to make this suggestion by persons who witnessed incidents in schools who brought to his attention the importance of having teachers who can provide immediate assistance in such cases.

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt

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