School counsellors working across Malta and Gozo are pressing the authorities to conclude long-overdue collective agreement negotiations, arguing that their current pay and conditions do not reflect the growing complexity and emotional demands of their role in the education system. Represented by the Malta Union of Teachers, the Student Services Grades, which include Education Support Practitioners, Senior Education Support Practitioners and Principal Education Support Practitioners who provide guidance and counselling, have been without an updated agreement while other sectors of education secured new terms under the 2024 Sectoral Agreement. The MUT has repeatedly stated that negotiations for the new agreement for Student Services Grades commenced some time ago, with meetings scheduled to update members on progress, yet counsellors say talks have dragged on without a concrete financial package or clear timeline for implementation.
Counsellors point out that their workload has intensified in recent years as schools deal with rising cases of anxiety, behavioural difficulties, family breakdown, and the impact of social media on student wellbeing. Despite being frontline professionals managing crisis intervention, safeguarding disclosures, and referrals to external agencies, many remain on outdated salary scales and lack parity with other education grades that benefited from the 2023–2027 Sectoral Agreement. That agreement delivered backdated salary increases, a €1,000 signing payment, allowances for long-serving educators, expanded special leave, and improved study leave provisions for teachers, KGEs, LSEs and school leaders, but Student Services Grades are still waiting for comparable recognition.
The MUT has informed members that the absence of a concluded agreement leaves counsellors without the updated allowances, professional development pathways, and clearer career progression structures now available to other grades. School counsellors argue that the delay undermines recruitment and retention at a time when the Ministry for Education is emphasising student mental health and early intervention. They are calling for the government and the Ministry for Education to prioritise the conclusion of talks, present a financial proposal that acknowledges their qualifications and caseloads, and bring their conditions into line with the principle of equal pay for work of equal value that underpins the broader education sector deal.
Until negotiations are finalised, counsellors say they will continue to support students under existing terms, but warn that morale is suffering and the profession risks becoming unsustainable for new graduates entering the field. The MUT has indicated it will update members on developments and has not ruled out further action if progress stalls, stressing that safeguarding student wellbeing requires properly supported and fairly compensated professionals in every school.
