Non-Verbal Students Suffering Due To MUT Teacher Directives, Disability Commission Warns
The Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability issues a statement urging the Malta Union of Teachers to rethink some of its directives affecting non-verbal students.
“These students are amongst the most vulnerable members of the student body of our islands. When used in relation to these students, the communication book is not merely a tool which is conducive to their educational development but an essential tool leading to their overall health and wellbeing.”
“It is the sole means by which parents can make sure that they are well fed, they have taken the prescribed medication, and that their toileting needs have been met while their children are in the care and custody of the school.”
These directives were implemented on Monday by the MUT after the government presented two “insulting” financial packages, which they warned don’t live up to its electoral promise to significantly improve the working conditions of educators.
Consequently, MUT President Marco Bonnici declared that the government will find the union with unprecedented actions to safeguard the work of educators – so, it organised a justified strike for 27th November which is being preceded by a number of directives.
However, CRPD and parents have noted that these directives are disproportionately impacting children with disabilities, especially those who are non-verbal.
“Whilst recognising and supporting the legitimate plight of educators to obtain a better financial package which would surely lead them to better fulfill their essential role in our society, I ask of you to at least suspend the directive which forbids the use of the communication book vis-à-vis non-verbal students.”
This book is a means of communication between parents, LSEs, and teachers to ensure that everyone is updated on the child’s daily activities, making it the only way that parents of non-verbal children can know what they got up to.
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