The Unite Education Branch have issued a reply to the Government's announcement of a public consultation exercise on School Summer hours.

A statement from Unite follows below:

Following the announcement of a public consultation exercise on School Summer hours by His Majesty's Government of Gibraltar, the Unite Education Branch representing workers in schools have a number of concerns around the consultation and the aims of this process.

1. In principle, the Unite Education Branch welcomes a consultative approach to change. However, from an employment, industrial and educational perspective this should have started, in the first instance, with consultation involving the unions representing school employees and directly with the staff concerned before broadening its scope. There are educational considerations to be borne in mind e.g. an analysis of teaching and learning activities in warmer countries, including Gibraltar, quickly reveals that these do not solely happen indoors under the "protection" of air conditioning.

2. The Unite Education Branch is concerned by the manner in which HMGoG has sought the views of the citizens of Gibraltar to learn of their views. The ad hoc public consultation via email does not guarantee a representative spread of the electorate's opinions, when clearly the key stakeholders are employees, parents/carers of pupils and the pupils themselves. To obtain valid data about public feelings on Summer Hours, or alternative arrangements, a more rigorous methodology is required to accurately survey public opinion. Additionally, in keeping with our progressive, child-centric educational philosophy, perhaps there should also be an opportunity for the "pupil voice" to be expressed as part of this consultation exercise.

3. Regarding the inference that school Summer Hours could be scrapped and in turn term time would be "slightly reduced”, this provides little clarity for anyone to express their preference one way or another. A specific model, or choice of models, should be put on the table, following a suitable consultation process.

4. When the consultation says that HMGOG is considering the scrapping of "half days", these should more properly be referred to as "Summer Hours" since not only is this the official term, but during these hours the school day is in excess of a half of a standard school day. The practice of Summer Hours also already applies across Gibraltar.

5. Any departure from Summer Hours would represent a significant change to established working practices and the conditions of employment of those employed in schools, as such would necessarily require consultation and negotiation with the unions representing school staff.

6. As HMGoG is actively pursuing a net carbon zero policy, the Department of Education, which is tasked with promoting measures to combat the Climate Emergency, must be doubly sure that it is not itself moving in the opposite direction by potentially increasing its carbon footprint through the prolonged use of air conditioning in schools. Additionally, it must be noted that at present not all schools have air conditioning in all teaching rooms and our local climate, particularly in the afternoon sessions, can easily cause temperatures to rise beyond permissible levels.

In summary, the Unite Education Branch is not opposed to change. However, the union believe that if change is to be considered, any consultation should be properly organised, with relevant factors being clearly identified so that these may be thoroughly evaluated by all interested parties. The Unite Education Branch will also be responding to the consultation.