The Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) is urging the Education Ministry to withdraw Circular DES 28.2024, a directive requiring teachers to seek written permission before speaking to the media.
This call follows the case of Joanna Mallia, a maths teacher who was reprimanded for publicly criticising the new Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) system, which introduced continuous assessments.
Mallia defended her headmaster, stating he was simply following orders, but the incident has sparked widespread concern about the suppression of free speech in education.
The circular in question mandates that educators disclose the topics they plan to discuss and ensure their comments align with ministry policies, avoiding personal opinions or political bias.
The MUT has condemned this as a form of censorship and launched a petition to rally support from teachers, students, and the public, emphasising that teachers have both a “right and duty” to speak about their profession.
The directive has drawn backlash from various quarters. The Opposition and civil society groups, including Repubblika, have criticised the measure as “totalitarian,” warning that it stifles the freedom of expression that educators should be entitled to.
Jon Mallia, expressed his solidarity with the reprimanded teacher, pointing out that such actions only hinder efforts to improve the educational system. Instead of silencing teachers, he argues, they should be given the resources to be part of the solution.
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