Mcast students protest as industrial dispute bites

Students of the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology protested yesterday as they were caught in the middle of an industrial dispute between lecturers and the college administration.

The students have been affected by directives issued to lecturers by the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) after talks over a new collective agreement stalled.

The MUT called a two-hour strike last Wednesday after it deemed the agreement proposed by the college to be unacceptable. Lecturers have also been directed not to perform any duties apart from delivering lectures.

A large number of protesting students assembled in front of Mcast's administration building on campus at Corradino instead of attending lectures, even as some of their colleagues made class. Some students from Mcast's Building, Construction and Engineering Institute in Naxxar joined the protest. No incidents were reported.

Karl Carabott, a student in the Mechanical Engineering Institute, and Paul McAlister, from the Information Communications Technology Institute, who were outside the college as students protested inside, said the students had a number of grievances.

One was that they were not being given any assignments, which were used to test the students' performance during the year. Student queries in connection with the assignments were not being answered and neither were lecturers correcting assignments.

The students complained this would probably result in having to attend school for longer than expected while the results and diplomas would be issued late.

The students also pointed out that no attendance records were being taken resulting in lower attendance levels. Students who fail to attend 20 per cent of the overall school time are normally severely disciplined.

Students also complained that the students' council did not appear to have taken a stand over the issue.

But Phoebe Ann Beddington, a member of the council, said that, though she could not speak on behalf of the council, she would rebut claims that the council was inactive over this issue. She said the situation was unfair for students because they had been caught in the middle of a dispute at a delicate stage in their course.

The student organisation Pulse expressed support for the students.

It said members of the organisation went to the college and heard Mcast principal Maurice Grech assure students that their interests would be safeguarded.

The student organisation said MUT president John Bencini had informed them that the situation had been brought about because the administration was rejecting the union's proposals on conditions of work for lecturers.

Pulse urged the Education Ministry to do its utmost to ensure that the issue be resolved so that students would be able to carry on with their studies.

Labour Party spokesman on education, culture and youth, Carmelo Abela said that, although it was acknowledged that workers had the right to defend their interests, the victims of industrial action at Mcast were the students.

He blamed the government, saying it had dragged its feet over the past year, failing to agree on a collective agreement for the lecturers.

He appealed to the government to take immediate action and reach an agreement with the lecturers. Teachers, he said, needed good working conditions in order to provide the country with good quality education.

An Education Ministry spokes-man said last night that Minister Dolores Cristina yesterday had a cordial meeting with members of the MUT council and separately with other top union officials.

"The minister expressed her disappointment at seeing students being caught in the crossfire.

"She pointed out that she will do her utmost to solve this impasse but felt she could not start negotiations unless the union directive is withdrawn as is the practice is such situations," the spokesman added.

The Mcast Student Council said that, on Thursday, an agreement was reached between the council's president and the Mcast principal that the college would be responsible for the correct and timely issue of any certification affected by the strike.

The council called on students to attend lectures. The college administration assured the students through the council that the correct and timely issue of any certifications would not be affected by the strike.