Our solidarity

Ibn Campusino and colleagues at the University of Malta would like to express their solidarity with all those who were victims of the unfortunate consequences of the fire which hit the Humanities Building - one of the important pillars of tertiary education - last Wednesday.

Ibn Campusino was inundated with expressions of support and solidarity with our alma mater, its staff and students in this time of such a sad circumstance.

Our concern is especially expressed towards the two professors, Dominic Fenech and Joe Pirotta, whose offices were the hardest hit. One would like to re-emphasise the need to effect a continuous maintenance programme at the University in embellishment and more importantly in security. There are still a number of laboratories without the necessary safety equipment, security and fire exists.

Heads of department have been making requests for improvements in this area for years. Do we have to wait for a tragedy? The University requires significant funds to obtain these necessities. It cannot keep cutting its budget and corners.

Tertiary education is an expensive venture but not a luxury. Unless financial support is forthcoming the University could start witnessing a fall in standards and possibly in safety.