I refer to the letter Allotment Of Hours For Keep Fit Exercises (October 8) and an earlier one of September 29 by Carmelina Grech with the title Disappointing Omission at Third Age University.

For the sake of accurate reporting, it is useful to point out the following facts. Keeping Fit In Old Age, as Study Unit No. 138 in the calendar of the University of the Third Age, featured as follows in recent years:

During Academic Year 2007-2008 it was offered at the Sliema centre from April 22 to June 10, 2008. (Each subject unit is always of eight weeks' duration.) During Academic Year 2006-2007 it was offered at the Valletta Centre from November 27, 2006 to January 29, 2007 and in addition also at the Sliema centre from April 14 to June 12, 2007.

During Academic Year 2005-2006 it was offered in Valletta for the first time from February 13 to April 3, 2006.

This unit proved to be highly enjoyable and popular and attracted many students. However, for Academic Year 2008-2009, this unit did not feature at all on the U3E calendar in spite of the fact that a written petition signed by 50 students, asking for a continuation of Keeping Fit In Old Age, was submitted in early July 2008.

It is for this reason that the complete omission from this year's calendar of this unit has given rise to disappointment. At the end of each academic year students are invited to give their suggestions for study units they wish to have the following year. This is what 50 students specially asked for but did not get.