MUT says extending school hours is 'non-negotiable'

In December, the Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise had supported a call to extend school hours in order that children may enjoy extra curricular activities while their parents are at their respective work of place.

In a statement issued by the union, the MUT said it was the only organization which had negotiated and signed an agreement with government which included school hours. The union stressed the agreement was signed in August of last year and it was not prepared to reopen the discussion.

“It is shameful that there are still associations and individual who consider professional teachers as little more than babysitters,” the Union said.

MUT went on to say that it could not understand how the Chamber wanted the issue to be discussed in the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD), when the same Chamber was resisting calls by the Forum of trade unions, which includes the MUT, to form part of the council.

MUT reminded that its collective agreement included measures for after-hours education services.

The proposal for extending school hours was first made by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech prior to the 2011 Budget when he said it did not make sense that school finished so early with all extra-curricular activities being held in the evenings.

Following Fenech’s proposal, Chamber President Helga Ellul said that it was time for such a measure to be taken as to ensure that more people are able to contribute to the country’s economy.

The proposal was one of the Chamber’s recommendations to stimulate female participation. Soon after, the Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations (MCWO) welcomed the support of the Chamber.

“Such arrangements would relieve mothers from having to run round the island to take their children to such classes, reducing stress, traffic on the roads, pollution, misuse of fuel, and misuse of time and money,” MCWO spokesperson Kate Bonello Sullivan had said.

The MCWO has been lobbying since 2004 for the introduction of longer school days so that both mothers and fathers can continue in employment.

But the proposal had already received mixed reactions from the MUT, who doesn’t expect Maltese teachers to extend their working hours.

 “80 per cent of new teachers are women who generally opt for this profession because they consider it as the best way to reconcile work and family responsibilities,” president John Bencini had told MaltaToday. “Will parents be ready to pay for the extra expenses involved or are they expecting a free lunch?”

Back in December, the Chamber said it was willing to pursue its recommendations with social partners on the MCESD where it promised the Chamber would continue to contribute to ensure businesses operate in the right environment.