PN says it will not allow teachers to be silenced, PL hits back

A government that tries to silence teachers is one that shows no shame in displaying its lack of respect for educators, the Nationalist Party said Friday.The PN said it will not allow anyone, especially the Government, to muzzle the educators after i

By: independent.com.mt

Nov 01 2024
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PN says it will not allow teac

A government that tries to silence teachers is one that shows no shame in displaying its lack of respect for educators, the Nationalist Party said Friday.

The PN said it will not allow anyone, especially the Government, to muzzle the educators after it became known that teachers need written permission to speak to the media.

Through the Shadow Minister for Education and Skills, the PN has submitted a request to the Ombudsman, Emeritus Judge Joseph Zammit, to investigate and provide recommendations regarding circular 'DG DES 28/2024' dated 25 September 2024, entitled "Policy on the Participation of Educators in Media Appearances in Their Professional Capacity," issued by the Director-General for Educational Services, Ritienne Borg Saliba.

The PN said it is doing this to safeguard the rights of teachers and educators.

The circular issued by the Government specifies that every educator must first request written approval from the Director-General in order to participate in media if the discussion is related to the educational field.

Worse still, the circular stipulates that educators must follow the Government's policy line of the day.

The PN insisted that this circular stifles the freedom of expression of every educator as an individual and citizen by stating that no educator may voice their personal ideas on the field of education and dictates what may be said.

It also urged all teachers and educators to speak out about any discrepancies they may have experienced in the arrears they received yesterday. It is disappointing that the Government was unable to give teachers what they are due without causing confusion.

In reply, the Labour Party did not refer to the circular but said that a Labour government improved teachers' working conditions.

This is contrary to what PN governments had done in the past, the PL said.

The PL said that it is the PN and its leader Bernard Grech who want to muzzle workers and attempt to stop the people from being informed about the budget.