Timing of raising teaching to Masters level is “completely out of sync with reality” – MUT President

The timing of the University’s Faculty of Education to raise the entry to the teaching profession to Masters level is “completely out of sync with reality”, MUT president Kevin Bonello told The Malta Independent.

The Faculty accused the union of making “a number of unjustified statements” in a press conference last Monday.

In the press conference, The Malta Union of Teachers said that the teaching profession is facing a huge crisis as the working conditions and lack of support are pushing teachers away and leading to worrying staff shortfalls.

Mr Bonello said that the introduction of the course will only create a large vacuum in the industry.

The faculty reiterated that through the introduction of the Masters in Teaching and Learning (MTL), a course which was discussed with all stakeholders and which was reviewed by international colleagues, aims to prepare quality teachers, for the benefit of all schools and learners.

Mr Bonello stressed that the MUT is not against the concept itself, in fact they support it, but rather the union believes that its introduction should have happened simultaneously with substantial progress in the working conditions and wages of educators.

In meetings with the faculty, the union raised concerns that the course would not attract young graduates due to the poor wages and rigid regulations in the profession, he said.

“If your child has graduated with a BSc in Chemistry or IT, would you tell him or her to pursue a Masters degree in teaching?”