Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1292560
5 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 SEPTEMBER 2020 OPINION The confusion of messages on the scale of precautions was first exacerbated by the triumphalist talk of Robert Abela in the beginning of the successful COVID-19 strategy, and then, with the second wave, an apparent refusal to take up serious precautions and limits once again WITH some very rare excep- tions, it seems that a large part of the school body on the entire European mainland has seen its state and private schools wel- coming students; some of the less inclement summer climes, even since August. But as we have seen in the last week in Malta, the teach- ers' unions and teachers them- selves have resisted attempts to open schools, despite the necessity of having children in class to resume their interrupt- ed education and to restore a semblance of regimented so- cialisation in their lives. There is an entire community that is in gainful employment under the most trying of con- ditions right now, but our edu- cation system remains plagued by a culture that is stuck in time. Teachers' contact hours in Malta are punctuated by nu- merous staff development days' off apart from a long summer break; schools in other Med- iterranean countries like Cy- prus, Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal have also opened their schools towards the end of August or the beginning of September. And while teachers are indeed justified in bringing to the fore the issue of their sal- ary structures for a job so nec- essary for society, the second their work practices change it seems all hell breaks loose, with the MUT and the UPE pulling out the stops. Certainly, educators are not the only profession which have had to carry out a sacri- fice under the unprecedented circumstances of COVID-19. To attempt an odious compar- ison, far more jobs have faced the prospect of reduced sala- ries and less hours, even termi- nations or reduced revenues, than that of teaching, where the demand for schooling nev- er stops. Of course, COVID-19 is a problem – for everyone – but measures must be taken to counter the pandemic but physical schooling must take place. And we cannot approach this subject with the trepidation of having to confront teach- ers as if they were untouch- ables. I surmise that part of the problem here lies with the government itself, whose ed- ucation ministry appears to have dragged its feet in helping schools get in line with health protocols to prepare for COV- ID-19. Granted, these prepa- rations could not have been easy. But now that it has been scorched by criticism, it is ap- pearing too soft to take on the unions and their pressure to keep schools shut. This is what we get when the advice of health experts is overruled by politicians seek- ing to score populist points, even – believe it or not – dur- ing a pandemic. The confusion of messages on the scale of pre- cautions was first exacerbat- ed by the triumphalist talk of Robert Abela in the beginning of the successful COVID-19 strategy, and then, with the second wave, an apparent re- fusal to take up serious precau- tions and limits once again. Of course, the economy must keep on moving, even at the risk of a few deaths or so… and indeed, here we are now. But at this stage when we ex- pected children to be back in school, the country certainly cannot make room for either union representatives who want special regard for teach- ers, or even health apparat- chiks who seem to be inclined to impose strict conditions against COVID-19 in one area, but have allowed complete an- archy in other areas. And that is something for Charmaine Gauci to chew upon. Like doctors and nurses who have obligations, so do teachers have responsibilities, more so in this difficult time. They will probably find hours aplenty to bolster students' capacities with private lessons, earning more outside their directly tax- able teaching hours. Because it is quite striking that we end up turning to private after-schools lessons because of a serious lacuna in our schools where students who fall behind are not supported at school itself. Quite a Maltese phenomenon. And that is the black hole that the MUT and the UPE should be addressing; while the gov- ernment itself should show te- nacity and audacity: raise sala- ries if need be, but do not let thousands of students suffer. We must keep classrooms open, bring back our students to face-to-face lessons, and en- able those with learning prob- lems to get the attention need- ed. As Malta faced COVID-19, our essential services kept on functioning: the nurses and doctors, the carers, the pilots and the policemen, the soldiers, the journalists, the thousands of workers who kept the econ- omy going and the retail out- lets. They all had contact with hundreds of people. Everyone made great sacrifices: many in the private sector lost their sal- aries and get home pay. Most teachers and schools had none of their pay reduced. Which is why many ask: what makes teachers different to anyone else? Truly, they are probably more important to our society because the younger genera- tion needs them so much, but their parents need to get back to work to raise essential in- come to sustain their families. And this is the message that Owen Bonnici needs to empha- sise – this is not time for smug commentaries but for tough decisions. Europe's schools have been open for six weeks, and COVID-19 has besieged the continent. Here the MUT is complaining, talking about closing schools before even opening them. The future of our children cannot be dictated by a union. Owen Bonnici needs to find the courage to step in and take im- mediate action. Talk about taxing jobs This week I was chastised by Nationalist activists who sup- port Bernard Grech, to stop badgering the PN leadership hopeful about his tax-averse history. I refuse to accept such a hyp- ocritical attitude. Apart from Grech's unim- pressive political outlook, I cannot accept that this tax scandal is of no concern to the general public. Our political landscape has long been set by the effect of public amnesties on cash re- patriations, Swissleaks and the Panama Papers. Honesty on tax has been a bat- tle-cry of the Nationalist Party, so if its own prospective leader cannot get his act together or at least accept that transparen- cy on his past behaviour is the least he can give us, how can he expect others to respect his po- litical arguments? If we are to accept that tax evasion is a national malaise, then to hell with due diligence, accountability and corruption probes. Grech may galvanise the Na- tionalist vote, but he will prove for the umpteenth time that this society only considers 'tax issues' of significance if it suits one's political prejudice. Make no mistake: people out there have been disappointed by Grech's blasé attitude to- wards the press when it shone light on his tax affairs. Grech may be seen as some sort of antidote to Adrian Delia amongst the PN middle-class heartland of the 10th district, but the fact that he appears uncomfortable coming clean on why he never paid taxes for a consistent amount of years, even declared incomes that seem to be inconsistent with his profession, is a problem. Tax evasion is criminal and immoral. Undoubtedly, this kind of his- tory will return to haunt him when facing Robert Abela in a general election. Surely enough, the rebel fac- tion has included tax affairs in its 'wanted' requirements for any future PN leader. Schools must open, the unions must back down Saviour Balzan