University, Junior College exam results to be withheld in dispute

Academic staff at the University of Malta and the Junior College have been directed to withhold submission of all examination results until further notice, although they will continue to mark the scripts in the normal fashion.

The University of Malta Academic Staff Association and Malta Union of Teachers have also instructed staff not to participate in any examination board until further notice, other than in oral examinations for dissertations and theses.

The two unions have declared a trade dispute over the University's failure to make satisfactory progress in the negotiation of a new collective agreement for academic staff.

The last collective agreement between the academic staff and the University expired in 2003 and negotiations over a new agreement have been going on for more than a year. However, meetings have now been stalled for over a month.

The unions said they have been very careful not to let their directives have negative repercussions on the students. All examinations will continue to be held as scheduled and all scripts will continue to be marked.

A rally for staff will be held on Tuesday.