Jul 23, 2007Quickie Link: Gay Teachers are a "Controversial Issue" in Malta
By vanrozenheim
(Malta) - Last Wednesday, MaltaToday Midweek reported that the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) had to intervene to stop the termination of employment of four gay teachers from Church schools over the past five years. John Bencini from MUT claimed the Church schools were subjected to pressures from parents of children attending these schools. In one particular case the teacher involved was also subjected to insults written on the blackboard by his students. In all cases reported to the MUT, the employment of the teachers involved was ultimately safeguarded. In such cases the MUT strictly adheres to guidelines issued by the European Trade Union Committee on Education (ETUCE) which clearly state that as long as the teachers involved perform their professional duties their sexual orientation and private life should not be a factor in their employment. “As long as these teachers do not try to influence students by their beliefs or lifestyles, their sexuality is a private matter,” Bencini said.
