“If you wish the best for education, you need to take care of those who make it work”, insisted Sandra Gauci, ADPD – The Green Party Chairperson, during a press conference in front of the Qawra Primary School, in the context of the ultimatum issued by the Malta Union of Teachers to the government regarding the upcoming collective agreement.
Gauci added that the allegation made by the MUT that the government was backtracking on what was already agreed, is indeed worrying and demotivating for so many educators who do their best everyday. Educators are fed up of promises and empty words of respect for the crucial work they do for the country. The government cannot keep expecting educators to solve the country’s problems on the one hand, and at the same time treat educators as push-overs. Whist the country boasts of record economic growth, it cannot keep short changing educators.
Gauci referred to a recent study that clearly indicated that one of the main reasons why many young people are dissuaded from taking up a career in education is specifically the conditions on offer. “It is not surprising that the country languishes in an ongoing dearth of educators” added Gauci.
Gauci expressed solidarity on behalf of ADPD – The Green Party with all educators, including those in the obligatory years and also at MCAST. With regards to MCAST, the situation wherein the MUT had to resort yet again to industrial action is worrisome. Gauci insisted that the government should stop trying to divide educators.
“Don’t go back on your word. Remember the promises you made” insisted Gauci, whilst encouraging educators to remain united because it is only in remaining united that they can remain strong.
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Tmorrux lura minn kelmtkom
“Jekk tridu l-edukazzjoni f’Malta timxi ‘l quddiem,tridu tieħdu ħsieb lin-nies li jagħmlu dan possibbli”. Dan sostnietu Sandra Gauci Chairperson tal-ADPD -The Green Party waqt konferenza tal-aħbarijiet quddiem l-iskola tal-Qawra.
Dan intqal fl-isfond tal-battibekk li inqala’ bejn l-MUT u l-gvern fuq il-ftehim kollettiv il-ġdid għall-edukaturi, li rriżulta f’ultimatum lill-gvern mill-istess unjin. Gauci qalet li dak li allegat l-MUT fil-konfront tal-gvern u ċioè li l-gvern mar pass lura minn dak li kien diġà miftiehem huwa tassew inkwetanti kif ukoll demotivanti għal tant edukaturi li jagħmlu ħilithom kuljum.
L-edukaturi xebgħu jiġu mwegħda r-rispett lejn xogħolhom u lejn ir-rwol kruċjali tagħhom, u fl-istess nifs jitħallew jittewwbu. Il-gvern ma jistax jistenna fuq naħa li l-edukazzjoni ssolvi l-isfidi kollha tal-pajjiż, u fl-istess nifs jittratta lill-edukaturi ta’ paljazza. Filwaqt li pajjizna jiftaħar bi tkabbir ekonomiku bla preċedent, ma jistax jibqa’ jixxaħħaħ mal-edukaturi. Gauci għamlet riferenza għal studju lokali li wera kemm in-nuqqas ta’ kundizzjonijiet sura huwa wieħed mill-iktar aspetti li qed inaffar liż-żgħażagħ milli jikkunisdraw karriera fl-edukazzjoni. “Mhux ta’ b’xejn li pajjizna għadu jbati mill-pjaga ta’ nuqqas ta’ edukaturi” tenniet Gauci.
Gauci esprimiet is-solidarjetà tagħha u tal-ADPD mal-edukaturi, kemm dawk fl-edukazzjoni obbligatorja kif ukoll fl-MCAST. Anke fuq l-MCAST wriet it-tħassib tagħha li għal darboħra l-MUT kellha tirrikorri għal azzjonijiet industrijali. Gauci insistiet li l-gvern għandu jieqaf mill-logħob bil-kliem li bih qed jipprova jifred lill-edukaturi bejniehom.
“Tmorrux lura minn kelmtkom. Ftakru fil-weghdiet li għamiltu” insistiet Gauci, filwaqt li ħegget lill-edukaturi kollha jibqgħu magħqudin bejniethom għax huwa biss fl-għaqda li jkun hemm is-saħħa.
