Government should oblige Church schools to take on more student teachers - Bartolo

Bartolo was referring to how this year’s University intake for teaching students could have their choice of study areas restricted to a lack of teaching placements in Maltese schools.

The University of Malta earlier confirmed the possibility, saying that Primary Education, Computing, French, History, Maths, PE, and Science areas of study for the teaching course could have a restricted intake due to lack of teaching placements.

Bartolo said the Labour Party is appealing for a solution to the problem to be found.

He said that the students are facing limitations on how many people can opt for certain courses despite how they were not informed of the numerous clauses “despite not being informed, as was their right.”

Bartolo said that solutions can be found, and called on government to oblige Church schools to take on more student teachers on work placements, and also appealed on independent schools to offer greater prospects for teaching practice.

Bartolo insisted that the ultimately responsibility to resolve the situation falls on the Education ministry as the situation was down to a lack of planning.

“This situation could have been avoided with a bit of forethought and planning,” he said.

Bartolo added that the problem reared its head because the number of spots available within courses “suddenly depends on the scope for work placements."

He said the problem was created when applicants applying in 20^th July were told that they would be informed on how many places there would be “as soon as possible.”

“Since then, 59 days have passed and on 16 September a list of how many places were available for students who applied was issued,” he said.

He said that the consequence of this is that a number of students could end up being left out of the course, or might have to sit for a course they do not wish to pursue.

Labour spokesperson for education Owen Bonnici said that students affected by the situation should take an interest so that their rights of ‘legitimate expectations’ are not breached, and reiterated that solutions to resolve the situation exist and should be explored.

The General Workers’ Union Youth section expressed concern at the limitations imposed on prospective student teachers given how there are not enough teaching practice placements to go around.

The GWU said that students who applied for the teaching courses were being treated unfairly, and said that the students should have been informed of the risks at least two years in advance, and not three weeks.

The union added that students were so unaware that authorities would restrict their choice in this way that many did not apply for a second preference course. “Now they are risking being excluded from University for a whole year.”

The union’s youth section called on the authorities, particularly the Education Ministry, to find a solution so that no student who qualifies for the course is left out, hitting out at how students who studied for their qualifications are being done a disservice all because of lack of planning.