The Union of Professional Educators has recently received a number of inquiries regarding the upcoming exam period. Sources within secondary state schools have reported that members of the Senior Management Team (SMT) have informed Learning Support Educators (LSEs) that they will be responsible for “babysitting” CCP students who are not sitting for exams due to the teachers’ supervision duties.
The UPE strongly believes in the value of LSEs as educators, and therefore cannot tolerate such practices.
In the interim, the union has also observed that those Learning Support Educators (LSEs) who were assigned to Year 11, have subsequently been redeployed to different schools throughout Malta and Gozo and are being requested by management to formulate various documents such as student profiles, updated IEP reviews, and comparable paperwork. The UPE disagrees with this matter as these LSEs are not familiar with the students and cannot be compelled to create legal documents without sufficient knowledge of the students.
Consequently, the union is officially issuing a trade dispute together with the following directives effective on the 12th of May 2023;
LSEs who are members of the UPE must not supervise students (during examination dates) in CCP classes who are not taking any exams. Instead, these LSEs should instruct the students to go to the SMT’s office for the duration of the examination periods.
LSEs who are members of the UPE who were assigned to Year 11, have subsequently been redeployed to different schools throughout Malta and Gozo are not to formulate documents such as student profiles, updated IEP reviews, and comparable paperwork.
It is crucial that all educational institutions uphold the rights and responsibilities of professionals in the education sector. The UPE recognizes the significant role that LSEs play in the classroom and believes that their full value must always be realized. Therefore, it is vital that LSEs are not relegated to mere “babysitting” duties during the exam period.
In conclusion, the UPE stands firm in its commitment to ensuring that all education professionals are treated with respect and allowed to fulfill their roles to the best of their abilities. By prioritizing the value of LSEs as educators, we can ensure that students receive the quality education they deserve.
