A long-running dispute between the government and the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) over Junior College lecturers’ conditions appears to be nearing a resolution.Prime Minister Robert Abela wrote on Facebook that an agreement in principle has been reached for a new collective agreement covering academics at Junior College, describing it as another step forward in improving workers’ conditions.The development comes months after MUT issued industrial directives affecting Junior College lecturers as part of a trade dispute that began in November 2025.The dispute centred on the failure to reach a new collective agreement after the previous one expired in December 2023.Among the directives, lecturers were instructed not to submit attendance records or assessment results and to refrain from duties related to committees, boards and departments.Similar directives issued earlier at the University of Malta had resulted in delayed exam results and uncertainty surrounding graduation timelines before an agreement was eventually reached.Following recent discussions, the Ministry for Education and Sport confirmed that MUT has agreed to suspend the directives after both sides reached an agreement in principle.The proposed agreement will now be put to a vote among union members before it can be formally adopted.“We worked to earn people’s trust so that we could continue improving the situation of workers, and we are repaying that trust with results,” Abela said, adding that the agreement will lead to salary increases and improved working conditions for Junior College academics.Education Minister Byron Camilleri also welcomed the breakthrough, saying the government remains committed to improving the conditions of lecturers and teachers while ensuring students receive the best possible educational experience.Abela thanked all those involved in the negotiations and said he looks forward to seeing the agreement become the first collective agreement concluded during the new legislature.For students and lecturers alike, the suspension of directives marks a significant step towards ending a dispute that has been hanging over Junior College for months.What do you make of this agreement?•