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The Education Commissioner called on both sides of the MCAST dispute to engage in open and constructive dialogue to resolve the dispute that led to the withholding of examination results.
The Office of the Ombudsman and its Commissioner for Education have expressed serious concern about the situation at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST), which has yet to receive student evaluation and final examination results due to an industrial dispute with the trade union MUT.
The current situation stems from a directive from the Malta Union of Teachers to withhold assessment marks and to refuse to invigilate and take oral examinations.
This has left students, including those in their final year, in the dark about their progression and possible further study. It is believed that around 8,000 students have been affected to varying degrees.
“The Office of the Ombudsman recognises the fundamental right of educators to strike to express legitimate grievances and seek fair solutions. However, this should be done in a manner that causes the least harm to third parties, in this case the students, who also have the right to know the results of their studies throughout the year without undue delay,” the Education Commissioner said.
“Both sides should refrain from taking advantage of students’ plight to exert undue pressure. Also, neither side should show intransigence.”
A representative of final year nursing graduates from MCAST told Malta Today that her colleagues were unable to receive their final grades and therefore were unable to start their nursing careers. “This situation is particularly unfair considering that my classmates at the University of Malta were able to start working straight away,” student Kylie Mercieca told Malta Today.
“Our country is in desperate need of nurses and this delay is preventing us from contributing to the healthcare system at a critical time. I also discussed this with the chancellor but unfortunately nothing was resolved.”
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