May 7, 2021 at 12:55 pm
MUT refrains from attending today’s working group meeting in protest about the way it is being run
The MUT has notified the Ministry for Education that today it shall refrain from attending the scheduled meeting of the working group (task force) in protest over the way this working group is being run. The MUT, together with representatives of State, Church and Independent schools, have attended five consecutive meetings having the same agenda, which is the introduction of Learning Outcomes in Years 1, 5 and 9.
Throughout the discussion, the MUT together with the representatives of Church and Independent schools, have been in agreement and consistent in their positions claiming that the current situation of the pandemic calls for a rethinking of the implementation schedule of LOs, requesting that LOs in Years 1, 5 and 9 are not introduced during the next scholastic year which should instead focus on training. The Ministry, with its overrepresentation in the working group under the direction of the Permanent Secretary, has exerted pressure throughout five consecutive meetings to get the MUT, Church and Independent schools to change their position and to agree, instead, with the Ministry’s position to continue with the introduction of LOs in Years 1,5 and 9. This situation has frustrated most representatives, asking repeatedly that the issue is closed and that no more meetings are held on the matter given the respective positions. Yet, the Ministry is insisting in pursuing with another meeting to try to influence the decision.
The MUT deems this situation as unacceptable and is therefore refraining from attending the scheduled meeting of today in protest. The MUT shall direct members should the Ministry persist in its position, which is in total disrespect of the position of respective stakeholders.
