An agreement to end the school strike and chart a way forward for all schools in the wake of a surge in COVID-19 cases may be reached in the coming hours, the Malta Union of Teachers said after a meeting at Castille.
MUT President Marco Bonnici described the meeting as productive and hinted at a broad agreement that will encompass State, Church and private schools.
Today was the second day of strike action ordered by the MUT after government refused to have State schools go online at the start of the term. Church schools and some independent schools had unilaterally decided to start the school term online in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases.
[WATCH] Government confirms existence of advice from top health official on schools reopening, MUT says
The Malta Union of Teacher says that during talks with government on Thursday evening, it was confirmed that a top health official did communicate with the education authorities about schools reopening despite previous denials
8 January 2021, 10:50am
by Laura Calleja
The MUT ordered a two-day strike after government refused to allow State schools to start the term by going online in the wake of a COVID-19 spike
The Malta Union of Teacher claimed that during talks with the goverment, it was confirmed that there was a communication between the health authorities and the education ministry as to whether schools should reopen.
Updated at 7:50pm with MUT strike decision
The Malta Union of Teachers has ordered a two-day strike for educators in all State schools after emergency talks with government broke down this evening.
Union president Marco Bonnici said a request for teaching to go online until a thorough assessment of the COVID-19 situation is carried out by the health authorities following a post-holidays spike in cases was refused by Prime Minister Robert Abela. The union said it was warned that teachers will not be paid if they opted for online lessons.
Bonnici said following the government s intransigence on the matter, the union declared an industrial dispute and ordered its members in those schools that will not be offering online teaching to go on a two-day strike.
Updated at 11:40pm with MUT statement
Strike action ordered by the Malta Union of Teachers is “illegitimate”, the Education Ministry said this evening, insisting there was no health advice to keep schools shut.
The ministry said State schools will open as planned tomorrow morning. However, it did not say what arrangements were being made to take care of students who do attend and whether the respective class bubbles will still be respected.
The statement came hours after an emergency meeting at Castille ended with government turning down the MUT’s request for schools to offer online teaching in the wake of a spike of COVID-19 cases.
COVID-19: Prime Minister announces new €1 million aid package for bars and clubs
Prime Minister Robert Abela announces €1 million will be allocated to bar and club owners forced to extend their closure for another month due to coronavirus restrictions
31 December 2020, 3:04pm
by Karl Azzopardi
Band clubs who were forced to close will also be benefitting from the financial aid.
Abela said details on the state-aid package will be announced in the coming days.
On Thursday, Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci announced government would be extending the legal notice preventing bars and clubs from opening for business. The closure has been extended until 1 February as the health authorities fear a surge in cases after the Christmas holidays.