THE TEACHER - APRIL 2009

THE TEACHER (April, 2009, No 96), the bilingual magazine of the Malta Union of Teachers has just been published and is being mailed to all MUT paying members.

The MUT General Secretary, in his Editorial entitled, "Looking Ahead with Determination" writes about the recent achievements of the MUT and the Council's unanimous decision to leave CMTU and join the ranks of FOR.UM of Maltese Trade Unions, an organization, albeit young, has a lot of potential and, with the right set-up, may forge itself into a cornerstone of local industrial relations.

Dr. Angelo Chetcuti, who is responsible for Multilingualism, Communication and localization of information at the EC's Representation Office in Malta, writes about the many E.U Programmes which students and teachers can avail of.

On page 8, readers may read MUT's Preliminary Reaction and Recommendations on Government's Proposed Reform on the Transition from Primary to Secondary Education. A very interesting article entitled "Standard Testing Fails Britain" is reproduced as reported in "Worlds of Education" EI magazine of September, 2008.

Patrick Sammut interviews Lou Drofenik, a Maltese-Austrialian Novelist about her interest in Maltese Identity and Maltese Literature. Stephen Morris, whose works are reproduced on the cover of this number of "The Teacher", is as much an artist as a poet and writer of short stories for children. This interesting interview reveals Stephen Morris's turbulent up-bringing.

Mr. George Samuel former Education Officer responsible for the Special Education Sector is interview by J. Sammut and C. Magro. Mr Samuel, a pioneer recounts how he transformed segregation of children with Special Needs to Inclusion. Mr. Samuel also recounts on how "Remedial Education" was revamped together with Mr. Frank Mallia, who was Education assistant in the Special Education Centre at the time.

Ms. Odette Vella, Senior Information Officer, Consumer and Competition Division, dedicates her article to the protection given to consumers by the Unfair Commercial Practices Regulations, by which the European Unions set new standards.

John Bencini, MUT's President in his editorial in the MUT NEWSLETTER section in Maltese also writes about MUT's recent achievements and looks ahead with enthusiasm for the future. This section also reproduces Mr. J.D. Fenech, former MUT Vice President's speech at the last General Conference in May of 2008. Anthony Casaru the European Road safety charter and MUT's strong support to this important initiative.