Call for inquiry into selection of ICT firms

Labour spokesman on education Evarist Bartolo has called on the government to launch an inquiry into the selection process of companies commissioned by the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (Mcast) to teach information and communication technology.

The ongoing selection process ought to be stopped in the name of transparency and to ensure that the 600 students who start their ICT course are taught by people sufficiently competent in the subject, Mr Bartolo said in a statement.

He said the inquiry should determine whether it is true that according to the selection board's criteria, only companies who score over 70 points could be picked. However, even though only one of the five applicant companies scored over 70 points, the board recommended that the Public Contracts Committee appoint them all.

The inquiry should also establish whether it was true that the committee sent a report back to the selection board which changed the scores so that all the companies scored over 70, Mr Bartolo said. A spokesman for the Education Ministry said the allegations were being look into by the Ministry. "The ministry will do all that is necessary to ensure transparing in this process," the spokesman said.