Our members have informed us that the Ministry of Education has sent an email calling on peripatetic teachers to apply for a permanent class due to the shortage of teachers in the Primary Sector. This affects teachers who offer the following services:

E-LEARNING SECONDARY 
INCLUSION TEACHER 
SIS 
CHILD SAFETY SERVICES 
E-LEARNING PRIMARY 
LET-ME-LEARN UNIT 
SPLD 
COMPLEMENTARY 
ESD PROGRAMME 
LITERACY SUPPORT TEACHERS 
SPORTS PROMOTION UNIT 
DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT 
MATHEMATICS SUPPORT TEACHER 
VISUAL IMPAIRED DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES IN MALTESE 
ETHICS (PRIMARY) 
MUSIC PERIPATETIC 
YOUNG PEOPLES UNIT 

It is clear to us (but apparently not the Ministry) that our students are the big losers once again as they will not benefit from the above services in their ongoing formation. Moreover, we cannot stress enough that the lack of qualified teachers is contributing to a failing educational system in which educators offering these services are being denied the right to teach their specialised subject, leading to unnecessary stress and anxiety. 

It would come as no surprise if a wave of resignations due to the above implementation were to happen in the coming days. The Permanent Secretary Dr. Frank Fabri unequivocally promised that such measures were limited to 2020/2021 scholastic year and therefore would not apply to the coming year. Regrettably, the Ministry has chosen to ignore the UPE once again and has decided not to discuss such an important issue with us. 

The UPE is giving 48 hours’ notice to set an urgent meeting before issuing a series of instructions and directives to its members. We will not allow the Ministry to play around with our members. 

Should any union member have any further queries on this issue or any other, please contact us on 21221252/6/8, or via email at info@upe.mt