Industrial dispute hampers undergraduates' studies

An industrial dispute leading to a delay in the publication of exam results is jeopardising undergraduates' future, two student organisations warned yesterday.

The dispute was registered by University of Malta Academic Staff Association and the Malta Union of Teachers 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 academic staff and the University expired in 2003 and negotiations over a new agreement have been going on for more than a year.

In protest, UMASA and MUT said they would withhold submission of all examination results until further notice. They will also abstain from participating in any examination board until further notice, other than in oral examinations for theses.

Student organisations, Studenti Demokristjani Maltin and Kunsill Studenti Junior College yesterday voiced their disapproval saying it was unacceptable that students did not know whether they would be able to progress in their studies or not.