Malta Teachers’ Union Head Dismisses Concern Raised By PN Leader Of ‘Hundreds Of Asian Educators’
The Malta Teachers’ Union has played down Opposition leader Adrian Delia’s warning that the government intends to employ teachers from Bangladesh and Pakistan.
“We have no information or indication that the government intends to bring in foreign teachers, although if this was the case we would oppose such a move with all our might,” MUT president Marco Bonnici told Lovin Malta. “I don’t know where [Adrian Delia] got that information from but it’s totally unrelated to our recent dispute with the government.”
Moreover, Bonnici noted that such a move is legally impossible as state school teachers need to be in possession of a Maltese O-Level and to display knowledge of Maltese during their interviews.
MUT president Marco Bonnici (right)
Nationalist MP Therese Comodini Cachia publicly distanced herself from Delia’s warning in a Facebook post that hinted she could be ready to leave the party if it embarks on an anti-migrant path.
“The PN’s raison d’être is the democratic development of the nation, founded on the principles of work, justice and freedom and inspired by Christian democratic values,” Comodini Cachia said. “Our aim should be to form a society that offers equal opportunities to everyone regardless of their political affiliation, religion, race, sex or sexual orientation, a society in which everyone who contributes to its economic growth can enjoy the fruit of their labour.”
“Our society should foster jobs and cultural facilities and should do its utmost to ensure that peace and justice reign in the world, particularly the Mediterranean which is a melting pot of cultures. This is the party I believe in and this is the party I am ready to continue serving in.”
Delia’s warning of foreign teachers this morning came in the wake of a standoff between the government and the Malta Teachers’ Union over proposed legislation, which was eventually resolved.
The Labour Party accused the Opposition leader of lying and of using “racist” language as a result of his own political desperation.
“It is clear that he has abandoned Christian Democrat values and that he feels more comfortable with the far-right,” the PL said.
Labour MP Rosianne Cutajar, herself a teacher, dismissed the warning as “typical PN scaremongering”.
“Personally I don’t envisage this scenario and anyway what’s wrong in having qualified foreign teachers?” she questioned.
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