MUT President, John Bencini, has issued a message for Teachers Day, celetbrated tomorrow, Tuesday, the 5th of October, “Ten years have passed since the historic moment in April 2000, when the international community met in Dakar, Senegal and set itself a global challenge with the potential to transform the lives of millions of children around the world. That historic challenge is embodied in the ‘ Education for all goals’, namely to expand early childhood care and education; promote free and compulsory primary and secondary education to all; promote learning and life-skills for young people and adults; increase adult literacy and improve the quality of education. Of course, Maltese education has made enormous strides foward thanks to the thousands of Maltese teachers past and present who have made this a reality.”
“Globalization has forced governments to recognize the importance of quality education; it is on the lips of every political leader; it is reaffirmed in every summit communique. The Malta Union of Teachers has during the past 90 years of its history been insisting that priority be given to expanding quality teacher education. Maltese teachers are amongst the best. However, the MUT is still concerned that in certain areas and in certain subjects there is still a shortage of fully qualified teachers. The Primary Sector is a case in point. Only 12 Primary School teachers graduated from University this year. This has constrained the authorites to employ ‘Supply teachers’. Apparently next scholastic year many more teachers in this sector will eventually graduate,” Mr Bencini said.
The MUT President went on to say, “all teaching grades in Malta will be facing new challenges as the new reform on the transition from Primary to Secondary is now underway. This necessitates the importance of differentiated learning which will only be a success if it is complemented with a significant reduction in the maximum number of students in each class. The MUT augurs that the authorities should plan in advance to ascertain that an adequate teacher-student ratio is in place. An urgent review of Syllabi in the Primary and Secondary level has now become an outcry.”
“Last year on the occasion of Teachers’ Day, a student sent a special card to her teacher which read – ‘ A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others.’ One other student wrote, ‘ The way you teach, the knowledge you share, the care you take, the love you shower, makes you the best teacher in the world.’ Yes, that is what teachers are there for, concluded Mr Bencini.