Educators’ union says system ‘deteriorated’ when compared to last scholastic year

According to the Union of Professional Educators - Voice of the Workers (UPE), not only have various aspects of the educational system not improved since last year, but they have actually deteriorated.

The UPE issued a statement after having observed last week’s opening of the new scholastic year.

The union has asked the Ministry for Education to provide it with information regarding transport supervision policy, including: • The ratio of educators to students on regular transport supervision • The ratio of educators to students on regular transport supervision du

ties when several special needs are present. • The ratio of LSEs to students at resource centres.

“It transpires that such ratios are non-existent and should be public knowledge,” the union said. “The ministry hasn’t given such details to its employees, when we know for a fact that it’s the employer’s obligation to inform its employees via a circular.

“For this reason, students are not supervised well enough, with the possibility that certain accidents may occur due to low educator-to-student ratios,” the union continued.

The UPE also says it has noticed a growing trend in precarious transport supervision, where LSEs caring for special needs students have to travel every day to the town where the student lives, leaving his/her car parked there while the school is in another locality.

“It is no surprise that most schools are ‘indecent working environments for our children and educators. Just yesterday it was reported that a kindergarten class in Santa Venera is in a disastrous state,” the union said.

The UPE points out that this is not the only school in shambles. “St Thomas Moore, St Ignatius and the Gozo College have several classrooms that do not have the necessary equipment such as desks, chairs and cabinets.”

“Some works were carried out in summer, spilling over into the first days of the scholastic year.

“Educators working at the Gozo College, as well as St Theresa College, have been welcomed back with plumes of dust and furniture scattered all around the school. Due to this health hazard, educators have had to clear up the premises themselves.”

The union says it is perplexed as to why the Ministry for Education and Employment (MEDE) treats its employees in such a manner. “Could this be one of the many reasons why educators are leaving the sector?” the union asked.

“The central administration at the ministry is not providing enough resources to heads of schools to carry out the necessary maintenance work,” it concluded.

Members are urged to report such instances to the UPE so that immediate action can be taken on the matter.