[WATCH] Updated | LSEs having to carry excessively heavy loads, teachers’ union insists

LSEs having to carry excessive weight when lifting children

The Union for Professional Educators has voiced its concern with the regulations surrounding the lifting of children with disability by Learning Support Educators. 

According to current regulations, LSEs can be obliged to lift up to 27 kgs, which according to the union is resulting in two to three injuries a week. 

Using a seven-inch concrete brick to draw comparison to the weight LSEs are required to lift, union executive head Graham Sansone said that when lifting children, different disabilities pose different challenges.

“We are calling for the revision of outdated regulations while also demanding that the appropriate training is given to LSEs,” Sansone said. 

He added that there should be enough LSEs to ensure substitution when necessary in order for staff to be able to give an appropriate level of attention to all students.

Furthermore, Sansone said there was currently no contingency plan in place, meaning that if an LSE is injured while lifting a disabled child, sick and extended leave is taken out of the educator’s personal allowance. 

LSE’s obligation to lift 27 kgs, comes from the current job description parameters, which according to the union have to be revised every two years. 

“The Education Authorities shall at two-yearly regular intervals request the Occupational Health and Safety Authority to review the guidelines with the view of either confirming them or adjusting them to ensure the health and safety of the employees concerned,” the Job Description Handbook 2007 states. 

Sansone pointed out that five documents should have been issued from 2007 to 2019 by the Education Minsitry, with employees being notified of the results. 

The union is yet to receive the reports. 

“It seems that the Education authorities have not undertaken any such review since the union is yet to receive a positive reply from Dr Frank Fabri,” Sansone said.  

The Union questioned whether the lack of reports were the result of the Education Ministry forgetting to release the reports, or the lack of staff at the Occupational Health and Safety Authority. 

The Union has stated that it cannot tolerate outdated documentation, and if the situation is not improved, will consider notifying the European Agency for Safety and Health. 

The union will also be inquiring with the Curia over the same issue in Church schools. 

MUT statement

Reacting to press conference, the Malta Union of Teachers objected to statements it said were made during the press conference, which implied that the MUT had done nothing to address the issue of weight being carried by LSEs.

"The MUT is currently undergoing a process so that Job Descriptions for all grades where it has recognition within State and Church Schools, including those of LSEs, are revised. In fact it has already created working groups, made up of MUT members, where they have made lists of proposed changes," the MUT said. 

"The MUT has now reached the stage of finalizing discussions with the Ministry for Education & Employment and indeed there are already meetings scheduled with the Directorate accordingly."