Updated | New education law will not revoke teachers’ warrants, ministry insists

Updated at 3.05pm with PN statement

The Education Ministry has denied claims that a new set of laws governing Malta’s education system will see teachers’ permanent warrants revoked.

“It is not the case that teachers’ warrants will be revoked and no warrant will expire,” the ministry said in a statement. “The law used to, and will continue to, refer to teachers’ continuous development and ties to the warrant.”

It added that through a new collective agreement signed with educators earlier this year, this continuous development would be made easier.

The ministry’s statement comes a day after the Malta Union of Teachers voiced a number of concerns with the new law, including issues related to the introduction of home schooling, teachers’ warrants among others, and what the union claimed was a lack of consultation before the Bill was drafted.

“The proposed law is one that favours education, the protection of teachers, and one that strengthens the profession. The proposed law recognizes educators’ difficult work and is introducing stricter penalties for any type of violence or threats against educators.”

Moreover, the ministry said that the law will also remove the power of the minister to remove and award warrants to whoever they like, adding that instead with power would now go to the council in charge of overseeing the teaching profession.

PN says teachers' conditions being eroded

But the Nationalist Party accused the government of trying to reverse the professional status and warrant teachers had secured in 1988 when a new education law was passed by the Nationalist administration at the time.

PN education spokesperson Clyde Puli said the "arrogance of power" was leading the government to devalue teachers. This was reminiscent of a time when Labour governments used to pit students and parents against teachers, Puli added.

He also criticised the government for introducing changes without any consultation and called for the proposed law to be withdrawn.