A teacher who criticised the new O Level system on the Il-Każin discussion show said she was summoned by her superiors and informed that she must seek prior permission before speaking publicly.Joanna Mallia, who works as a maths teacher at a state school, told Lovin Malta that her headmaster informed her that his superiors (ta’ fuqi) inquired whether she had been given permission.This was in line with a government circular issued last year requiring educators who speak publicly about the education system to seek prior approval from their line managers and to ensure their comments reflect the ministry’s policies and guidelines. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lovin Malta (@lovinmalta)Mallia said she didn’t feel the need to ask for permission because she wasn’t representing her school but merely expressing her personal opinion.In fact, during that same debate, Education Minister Clifton Grima said that teachers don’t need to seek permission from their superiors if they want to express an opinion.Grima said the circular was issued to ensure that teachers who speak about the national education strategy are properly informed about its contents.“There were some cases of educators who spoke about the strategy without being prepared,” he said. “We are saying that if you want to participate in a discussion in your official capacity, you should first sit down with your superior and discuss the content. However, you don’t need permission if you simply want to express an opinion.”Challenged by Momentum secretary-general Mark Camilleri Gambin, who warned that the circular foments a sense of censorship, Grima said that not a single educator has been stopped from speaking out.During the debate, Mallia warned Grima that the new O Level system, whereby 70% of students’ final mark is based on the exam and 30% from assessments over the last three years of secondary school, is causing excess stress on several students.“How can you tell a struggling student to present a PowerPoint presentation in class? If their parents are good, they will help them with their presentations, but the parents of struggling students often struggle academically themselves. Who will help these students?”Jon Mallia, who hosts Il-Każin, expressed his solidarity with Mallia.“This teacher did the right thing by speaking out. Teachers like her are the best source of accurate information about the realities of our classrooms,” he said.“This teacher should not have been reprimanded—instead, she should have been given all the necessary resources to be part of the solution.”•