Teachers’ union protests against violence in schools

The Malta Union of Teachers ordered its members to take industrial action in protest against repeated incidents of violence in schools. The union felt that the Ministry of Education, Youth and Employment was not addressing this issue properly.

Cases of violence in schools, including physical abuse and psychological harassment of teachers, are reported to be on the increase. The Malta Union of Teachers (MUT), a union representing all grades of teachers in the public and private sectors – from kindergarten to university levels – is prepared to take further action against the growing problem of violence in schools, as it feels that the education authorities are not adequately addressing the problem.

Proposed measures

At a meeting held by MUT for its members, the union’s president proposed a number of measures to be introduced at the beginning of the next school year. Proposed measures include identifying schools that are most at risk and possibly appointing another vice-principal. If this is not possible, schools should have a designated person to monitor discipline, as well as security staff. MUT also proposed the employment of social workers and counsellors to assist students experiencing any personal problems. In addition, the union is in favour of having smaller schools and reduced numbers of students in classes in order to facilitate the implementation of disciplinary measures.

The Maltese Ministry of Education, Youth and Employment promotes a zero tolerance policy in relation to school violence, aggression and unacceptable behaviour during school hours. However, MUT feels that the ministry should be doing more to prevent these problems in schools – hence the recent action on its part. The union is requesting clear instructions from the appropriate authorities on how teachers and other school staff should act in the event of such circumstances occurring.

Union directives to teachers

On 7 March 2006, MUT organised a two-hour protest rally. The union invited everyone involved in the education sector to discuss issues regarding violence in schools and unacceptable student behaviour, and the threats these pose to teachers’ health and safety. Officials from both the General Workers’ Union (GWU) and the Union of United Workers (Union Haddiema Maghqudin, UHM) turned out in support of the union’s proposals. During the rally, MUT issued three directives for all teachers, including kindergarten assistants and facilitators. The first of these directives was linked to a particular case where a geography teacher was physically injured by one of his pupils. The directive stated that all teachers should refuse to have any contact with the student who had shown violent behaviour towards his teacher. After this incident, union officials visited the school to offer staff members the necessary support. The second directive was extended to all cases of unacceptable behaviour reported to the government’s education department, which the union feels were not adequately dealt with by the relevant authorities. Finally, as a sign of solidarity for the geography teacher who had recently been attacked, MUT instructed its members to report for work an hour late on 23 March. On 21 March, GWU informed the Director General for Education (DGE) that it was also instructing its members to participate in the directive issued by MUT to report late for work on 23 March.

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Employment instructed school principals and vice principals to report for work on time and also informed parents that school transport would operate as normal on 23 March. This prompted MUT to respond that the government was attempting to intimidate union members by obstructing the freedom of principals and vice-principals to follow the union’s directive.

Right to safe workplace

The Secretary General of MUT explained to the Ministry that the union has long insisted that immediate action should follow whenever teachers are harassed in any way. The union also emphasised that teachers have the right to carry out their job in a safe workplace where their authority is recognised and respected. MUT executives pointed out that parents need to recognise that schools are educational institutions where discipline is an essential component for establishing an environment in which teachers can teach and students can learn.

Manwel Debono and Christine Farrugia, Centre for Labour Studies, University of Malta