Lecturers making students their victims - government

R Spagnol

Dec 25th 2008, 20:18

Albert Gauci Cunningham is describing the situation at our university very well!

One has to be conscious that the concerned unions have already lifted their industrial actions in the past. KSU stated that education is not a bargaining tool, and so it is! But what about the lecturers conditions?! The conditions of both the government and the unions are both debatable, but when comparing the local salaries with that of Mediterranean and other European lecturers one would find that our lectures are very far from it!

It is true that the Government is in not in a very good condition to increase their salaries. It would have been much better if the collective agreement was not ignored in the first place. Last March we were given the impression that Gonzipn would do anything to safeguard the students, what is happening at the moment is very different from what was the impression given out!

KSU and the other students' organisations still need to be more precise and open to the students who are left out guessing what is next. This is really not a partisan issue and all of them should work for the interests of the students!

Mark-Anthony Fenech

Dec 19th 2008, 18:19

@ Carmel J. Caruana

Very well said!

Carmel J. Caruana

Dec 18th 2008, 19:09

For those students and members of the general public who are complaining about lecturers, I repeat what we REAL academics have been repeating ad nauseum – that we look forward to the time when there is a political administration that will kick out of the university those undeserving lecturers who are giving us all a bad name. So why don’t the politicians do it? The reason is simple - a significant number of these undeserving lecturers are political and semi-political appointees – which is why they seem to be on a list of untouchables! We REAL academics (who by the way I can assure you are very much looked up to by our students) waste a considerable portion of our energy (often at considerable personal risk) in reducing the undesirable effects created by these undeserving ‘political academics' on the general learning environment. Dear students please be more mature and start reflecting more wisely where the real problems of this country lie - a pathetic political class that persists in awarding appointments on the basis of unquestioning political allegiance instead of merit – in effect destroying the higher education system (and the moral fabric of society) for a handful of votes.

P Debono

Dec 18th 2008, 18:09

I wonder what Mrs. Cristina's reaction would have been had it been her suffering from this trauma for two consecutive times....

What a joke of a country.

Robert A Dalli

Dec 18th 2008, 17:20

Att Mr O'Cassey

Please note that the Mr Betts is in actually fact a newly PHD graduate ... hence he is a Dr.

Abel Abela

Dec 18th 2008, 10:49

Government's trying to turn Maltese students against their teachers.
It must be quite desperate to decide to undermine the basic relationship between the two key elements in tertiary education - the teachers and their students.
Without them you don't have a University. Keep that in mind Mr GonziPN.

M.Azzopardi

Dec 18th 2008, 10:49

Apparently the discourse has once again moved to money...

@ D Vella... YES WE HAVE TO COMPARE with our European counterparts. In practice Maltese Citizens face a cost of living that is at par or higher than

many European States. A vehicle in Malta costs way more than the EU average, so does the Toaster, the TV, the Fridge, The Fuel, The Home, The

Electricity bill etc...

So the argument is simple. Since we face similar costs as our European counterparts, we need similar wages to match. Period!

Else we will pack-up and go to the greener pastures!

This applies to ALL Qualified Professionals not just Lecturers or Academics. We deserve The HIGHEST Standard of Living that we have all worked

tirelessly for!

If wages have to rise across the board then SO BE IT! LET THEM RISE! Everyone who merits such an increase should get it. Meritocracy should prevail in

this country.

The best qualified people who contribute most to society must be rewarded the highest standard of living possible.

AND PLEASE don't mention the competitiveness of the labour market argument (fallacy)...
Just send the cheap labour to China where it belongs!

J. Sammut

Dec 18th 2008, 06:57

@ lgalea
"come to think about it, the Prime Minister, Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries did not have to resort to industrial action to increase their salaries by some 40%, €290, Lm125 PER WEEK."

Can anyone please confirm whether lgalea's post above is correct - i.e. that the Prime Minister, Minster's & Parl Secs got a 40% increase, €290 PER WEEK for themselves??!!!! Perhaps a link to the corresponding online articles or so?

Everywhere I go I am hearing about job-cuts, and 4 day weeks, and the economic slowdown, and the increasing deficit, etc etc so l was schocked to read lgalea's post above.

Hope there is some error or misunderstanding!

P. Attard

Dec 18th 2008, 00:00

All students want/need from their lecturers are punctuality, actually turning up for the lectures (if otherwise, previous notice is given), giving us sub topics and material relevant to the credit,give us work to do...i don't think that this is too much to ask. I am ashamed to say that a foreign student attending the UOM on Erasmus told me "no wonder you don't pay for your education..The system is ****"....when these situations are put right they can ask for a raise which should THEN be rightly granted.

Mark-Anthony Fenech

Dec 17th 2008, 22:37

To Bertie O'Casey and R.Bartolo:

Bertie O'Casey: What I meant by Great Republic of Fools was our unfortunate tendency to argue for ages without getting to fruition. We grumble, we complain but do not take action, instead we contend ourselves with grumbling around like "mean, narrow housewives" (D.H Lawrence). I did not mean you per se and if you took offence I apologise. Is that enough?

I see this country as Jonathan Swift (through Gulliver) saw England in Lilliput.. Malta is Lilliput...

R.Bartolo: I see your point, I think it is well argued but even then I don't have to agree with everything you said. I congratulate you on your achievements. It is clear that you are much more experienced than I am (I am a second year B.A. Hons (English) student). What I am hating about this situation (hence Great Republic of Fools) is that the government and the lecturers are using us students as tennis balls.

One more thing; I spend my smart card on books and notes. Since I do not work (I prefer to focus wholly on my studies) I use the stipend as a relief.

J.Borg

Dec 17th 2008, 21:57

Dear all anti-Lecturers

Please note that the work of academic is not simply that of lecturing...but includes carrying out research, getting external funds for projects from which new equipment is acquired, carrying out administration tasks such as setting up new courses, modules, preparing student exchange visits etc. Please stop generalizing as if all lecturers hand in exam scripts late or miss lecturers. This is the same as *if* one had to say that all students do not attend lecturers regularly, all students submit their assignments late, all students copy etc....which of course is not true. Yes a few students do behave like that but not all. So please stop generalizing on lecturers too. What is not being appreciated is the fact that since this issue commenced, several full-time academics left the University for good! And if you think that good academics wiith a PhD in their specializing are produced in a day...please think again. Who is the victim of lecturers leaving Uni?

R. Bartolo

Dec 17th 2008, 18:33

Albert Gauci Cunningham ,
I am discussing the education sector. You are discussing politics.
I do not want to dirty my discussions with that.

I am not saying all lecturers are hopeless. Just that an increase should not be dependant only on asking for one. Punctuality for lectures, actually showing up, and quality of lectures delivered is important.

I am not saying students need to be spoon-fed even more. Definitely not. But a lecturer cannot spoon feed you as an alternative to actually teaching you.

Matt Bonanno,
I Love that quotation =)

John Betts

Dec 17th 2008, 18:28

Mr. O'Cassey:
No apologies needed whatsoever, 'John' will do fine.
As regards union and lecturers: yes, it is trusted, but the government proposal was not what the union had requested, and thus it had to come back to us to present it.

Johnny Smith

Dec 17th 2008, 15:58

How about finding someone to arrange their situation. Yet our parliament members have again taken a big rise to cover the high cost of living and Enemalta services expences?
So why no one is talking about the 40%, forty percent increase that our Members of Parliament are to receive as approved recently while others such as our lecturers cannot have a decent salary increased when we all know that other staff members working with the Government and with the University of Malta or with any Government subsidery authority who are not at all academic staff yet they have salaries much, much higher than the rates that are now being requested?

Unless some sort of agreement is reached all the good academic staff might soon be leaving for other European countries who would take them for their good quality as teaching staff at the University, that in fact they could be offered much more higher salaries than that and permit me to state (peanut salary) as being asked by their Union. So, yes we all know that our lecturers have very good quality, not to be lost.

Albert Gauci Cunningham

Dec 17th 2008, 15:57

@ R.Bartolo----Considering the arrogance , the laziness and apathy which you claimed has gripped the lecturers the results are not bad....not bad at all actually!! So considerable are the results that DR.Gonzi has time and again showered the University of Malta with praise (quite right I'd say!!) and used tertiary education as one of the strongest arguments in favour of a PN government. So the questions follow in a natural way........is it just the students that have made UNI so good?? Lecturers, some of whom I happen to know and find as extremely dedicated, have absolutely no part whatsoever to play in the UNI's sucess?? Or was Gonzi's praise just hot air and the UNI is crippling with gross failures?? You can't have a good university with lecturers having the qualities Bartolo attributed them with!!

....................Management by crisis is not why we voted this govt. in!! It should have the decency to at least try to find a middle way and not try to make bus drivers out of our educators!!! Some lecturers might not deserve a payrise but then again we live in a country whose Ministers gave themselves a handsome rise and bought themselves a poshy jaguar!!!!

Matthew Grech

Dec 17th 2008, 14:07

So exactly why are lecturers asking for an increase, or lets be fair for such a large increase? Is it for all those times that they don't show up to lectures?or when they arrive for an hour lecture, 30 mins late?for the times when even though there are no disputes, they hand out exam results late?for the times that they act arrogant with their students?

My honest opinion, yes like any other worker, lecturers should get an increase, but surely not the figures they are requesting.

An agreement should be reached between the parties whereby the government will conduct audits on the university lecturers and will then increase their wages in a stepped manner based on these INDEPENDENT quality audits.

So until lecturers provide a quality service to the people who will be leading our country tomorrow, I think that the government shall never give up his position regarding their wages.

Matt Bonanno

Dec 17th 2008, 14:00

Also, although not strictly relevant to the topic, I'd like to share a comment which one of my lecturers (one of the good ones) made a few weeks back:

"Universities abroad produce employers. University of Malta produces employees."

Pretty spot on don't you think? Although personally I would change employers and employees to shepherds and sheep.

Matthew Bonanno

Dec 17th 2008, 13:48

One more thing:

It's important to mention that, although the main issue seems to be a payrise, there are other issues as well, which have been neglected by the mainstream media (as you'd expect). As reported this month by The Insiter, the student paper at Uni, there are points in the collective agreement which are related directly to students. Two which I recall are

i) Lecture times will be extended to 8pm - For studenst like me, whose last bus home (to Mgarr) leaves VLT at 7.30 (but I won't get started on that...), this is completely absurd.

ii) Lecturers will be required to deliver quality lecturers, or something worded along those lines - so what constitutes a 'quality' lecture? I assume it doesn't involve a lecturer reading word for word from notes, aided by a PowerPoint Presentation which is just a mass of text, or supplyinh notes which are so old that they would pay less fare if they happened to try and catch a bus. That said however, as Mark Anthony Fenech said there are plenty of lecturers who do their job very well, both at Junior College and Uni, and to whom I owe a lot.

Bertie O'Cassey

Dec 17th 2008, 13:03

@ Mr. Betts

First of all I would like to apologise for not referring to your good self as Mr.

Secondly, do the lecturers trust the union (their elected representatives) to agree on a package that is suitable? If yes they should have stood by what they agreed in the beginning and if No, well then the lecturers cannot point any fingers at any one especially government.

Dominic Fenech

Dec 17th 2008, 11:56

This is no contest between the academic staff and the students. I don't think that one can argue convincingly that the Government would be prepared to raise academic salaries if it stopped giving stipends to students. The Government started issuing stipends to students back in the 1980s in order to boost student numbers. Now it continues issuing stipends because it would lose too many votes if it stopped. So (1) the stipends are here to stay for the foreseeable future, and (2) students ought not to have difficulty understanding that the university is essentially a partnership between them and the academic body. Attempts by Government members to turn students against their lecturers are downright disgraceful.

John Betts

Dec 17th 2008, 11:46

Mr. O'Cassey: the issues which were contested were objected to by several members of staff, and not 'individuals' as you indicate in your response. A union represents its members, and consultation with its members is a fundamental of representation.

C Vella

Dec 17th 2008, 11:09

R Bartolo, Please do weigh your words carefully. Whilst I understand your frustration against those students that abuse of the system please do note that others do actually need a stipend to make it through the university.

I never had a car since I could not find time for employment during the scholastic year and I took the bus, be it sunny or rainy... I also found great irritation in the way that others abused of the stipend BUT I do believe that some of us actually needed it!

Stephanie Bezzina Wettinger

Dec 17th 2008, 10:45

I am greatly in favour of a merit award mechanism for pay increases in all fields, not just for academics. However it would be a big blow to quality in our University if merit awards or promotion depended on students' evaluation of their lecturers. If that were the case no lecturer could assess a student's work without a conflict of interest. It would no longer be possible to have an honest relationship between students and lecturers.

I'd like to point out that failing a student is always a difficult thing to do and I'm ready to bet that most lecturers will go through the student's work several times to ensure that that student doesn't deserve a better mark. But once that is determined a responsible lecturer needs to fail the student. This safeguards us all when students graduate and enter the workforce where we and our families depend on them. A proportion of students who fail or who are caught plagiarising find it difficult to accept that their lecturers have evaluated them fairly and given the chance may very well retaliate by giving a negative feedback on the lecturer who will suffer for having done his job responsibly.

Dominic Fenech

Dec 17th 2008, 10:21

In this country the economy is always in trouble after elections and always booming before elections. Negotiations with the government were in progress well before the elections. I don't recall any government member before the elections using such foul language and trying to turn the students we care so much for against their lecturers. Such hypocrisy.

R. Bartolo

Dec 17th 2008, 10:13

As I said before,I was a student in University for four years,have since graduated and am working.
I worked my way through sixth form,and university.
When I looked at my class mates,the majority of whom did not work,I could observe what they spent their money on.
Mobile credit,cigarettes, food at the expensive shops around campus,clothes ( LOTS of clothes),and other such items.Even most of their smart card went into this stuff.
Also my course was one of the hard ones,in case you are wondering. (B.Sc.ICT)
So I have been there,experienced it,and am talking from first hand experience.

You say stipends are a relief... A relief to WHOM exactly?
Students? ( who spend it at Paceville)
Parents? (at whose place these students still live,and do not see any of this money)
Tax Payers ( who see even less of their taxes)

Only in Malta does a student expect to study for free,get paid for it,and still think he or she has the right to fail.
In other countries,students have to most often pay for their education.Also it is the rule not the exception that they work.
The result of the Maltese system?Under-achieving students not prepared for life.

Bertie O'Cassey

Dec 17th 2008, 10:08

FOOLS!!!!!!!! I take offence to being called a fool just because I am interested in what goes on around me and because I express my opinion.

Well then again, it takes one to know one!!!

Mark-Anthony Fenech

Dec 17th 2008, 09:53

Here we go again! Latest debacle in the Great Republic of Fools!

Is R.Bartolo a student or was he one? How come he speaks like that? Stipends are a relief... So whilst you are reading for a degree you will work too? When this was introduced some people I know who were medical students used to work as handymen in schools during the summer...

I agree with Matthew Bonanno's point... I do think lecturers should get a pay rise, well some of them do really deserve it because they fulfill what is required of them and beyond.. Some of them do not unfortunately though... A rating system should be introduced and this debacle would end but in the Great Republic of Fools this will drag on ad nauseum...

R. Bartolo

Dec 17th 2008, 09:39

Matthew Bonanno,
I agree with that too. Stipends are a waste of money. They are too much for students whose parents help them, and too little for those whose parents do not.
The are a huge drain on resources, and utterly obsolete for nowadays.
The government should stop providing stipends, and should instead make sure that part time jobs are available for students ( think of it as internships ).
This would be ideal for graduating with experience, being useful, and also having a taste of what your industry offers. If for example you will not find a single job once you graduate, it is better to find it out before.
But this is another argument for another day...
Right now the focus is on the lecturers, and I believe that most of them have a rather bad attitude.

Bertie O'Cassey

Dec 17th 2008, 09:13

@ James Frendo

So if I understand you correctly, if the government doesn't give the lecturers whatever they want he is arrogant? And since you are mentioning the package I am assuming that you saw the aforementioned package.

@ J.Borg

Are you aware that the government set out clear guidlines that where accepted by the union? Are you also aware that it was the union that backtracked? Again are you suggesting that any request by the lecturers be accepted by the government?

@ A.Coppini

I agree with you, are these lecturers audited? at the end of the day if they do not deliver at the required standard it is the community that will suffer.

@ John Betts

You forgot to mention "Il-Gvern għamilha ċara li, filwaqt li jibqa’ dejjem lest li jiftaħ mill-ġdid id-diskussjonijiet fuq il-Ftehim Kollettiv għall-Universita’ u l-Junior College, dan jista’ jsir biss jekk l-uffiċjali tal-UMASA, eletti mill-membri bħala rappreżentanti taghħom, ikollhom mandat mill-istess membri tagħhom mhux biss biex jinnegozjaw, imma anke biex jikkonkludu u jiffirmaw il-ftehim kollettiv li jintlaħaq bejn iż-żewġ naħat" should we start to cater for every individual needs, cause that would take a heck of a long time.

Ernest Vella

Dec 17th 2008, 08:42

The Goverment must take note that if this stays till the last day before the exam....and than surprisingly the students find out that they still have the test....this would not be fair to students. It must be stated a 15 day limit to present the paper and if does not happen the tests must not be held.

This is too much and not fair because of the stress such tests can make on students

Abel Abela

Dec 17th 2008, 08:06

The lecturers ought to take care of public opinion. It's overwhelmingly against them, as can be seen from the grudging comments of your past and present students.
This unpopularity is really a strange thing, for a country with just one university whose alumni account for 99% of the Maltese professional class.
Nothing suits the Government's interests better than having the general public lambast employees for daring to stand up and striving to improve their working conditions.
It gives the Government a moral edge and is a sure sign of a totalitarian society and a one-party state.

Matthew Bonanno

Dec 17th 2008, 01:02

And also, to better solve the problem of lecturers who clearly don't give a damn, a proper rating system for all lecturers should be introduced, not something purely tokenistic like we had last academic year.

Matthew Bonanno

Dec 17th 2008, 00:54

To all those suggesting that lecturers shouldn't get a pay rise because some of them are crap: by that argument, students shouldn't get a stipend because some of us choose to waste it on alcohol, cigarettes, and other ultimately useless stuff, and spend their Smart Cards on non-education related things.

Works both ways.

lgalea

Dec 17th 2008, 00:39

p.s.
come to think about it, the Prime Minister, Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries did not have to resort to industrial action to increase their salaries by some 40%, €290, Lm125 PER WEEK.

How's that for hypocrisy?

lgalea

Dec 17th 2008, 00:36

Remember when in the 1960's the PN Minister for Labour at the time Dr Censu Tabone later President of the Republic presented for first reading the infamous Bill 69 which provided for the sending to prison any union or employers association that resorted to industrial action?

This is where the Gonzipn wants to take Malta, back half a century as regards industrial relations.

katie micallef

Dec 16th 2008, 23:51

Mark Casha is spot on! Students need to realise that it is in their benefit to understand that this affects them in more ways than just delayed exam results, the wellbeing of the university is in their interest. Shame on the Times for taking such an unashamedly biased angle! And shame on the government for trying to turn studens against the lecturers.The government is making both lecturers and students victims and it is time both students and lecturers united and stood up to it.
Shame on Gonzi for stating that he wants this island to be a centre of excellence in the education sector...all talk and no action.
As a student i support my lecturers and i will stand up for my right to quality of education.

m.psaila

Dec 16th 2008, 23:37

Povri studenti is all i can say..yes they are the victims in all of this!

Jeremy J Camilleri

Dec 16th 2008, 22:55

Isn't it strange that whenever ANY union in Malta has an issue with the Goovernment, and resorts to industrial action, the Government stresses how the third parties are going to suffer, and how irresponsible the union concerned is?

What is the message here? That any union which has reached a deadlock with the Government must not resort to industrial action?

WHilst it is true that third parties always suffer, isn;t it also true that this suffering is sometimes brought about by the stubborness of the employer, in this case the Government?

What is the Government trying to say here? That unions who have disputes should not be allowed to strike?

Its been suggested by a PN administration in the past....

Stephanie Bezzina Wettinger

Dec 16th 2008, 22:06

Whilst not without its problems our University is brimming with activity. Student numbers have increased enormously, coupled with an increase in the number of courses offerred, including the number of postgraduate courses. University competes for funding, both nationally and internationally, and is successfully participating in a number of research projects. Staff from the University publish widely in international journals in numerous fields.

There can be no doubt that there has been a lot of hard work and dedication behind these efforts. They have not materialised from nothing. Whilst there is much more to be done, the achievements made need to be acknowledged for discussions to lead to conclusions that will be satisfactory to all concerned.

Staff, students and authorities should keep their focus on our common goal: to produce an academic environment that is productive for students and for scholarly and research achievements.

Pierre S. Farrugia

Dec 16th 2008, 22:02

On reading the above text I see that there is a point that needs to be clarified. UMASA was set up in order to make sure that its members have a say on a collective agreement that affect them directly. This I believe is a legitimate thing to do in a democratic country, and is meant to protect the interested parties.

Now the government expects that UMASA to renounce to a privilege that is granted to her by the constitution in order for negotiations to move ahead. This makes me ask myself: Is this a reasonable thing to expect a union to do? Where have the freedom and the right of the unions gone?

R. Bartolo

Dec 16th 2008, 21:42

Albert Gauci Cunningham,
I have studied, I have graduated, and I have worked for a long time.
So I know both worlds.
Where I work, I work myself to the bones, and then maybe get a salary review.
I don't think there is any other job, apart for bus drivers and university lecturers, where one doesn't show up to work,acts aggresive and arrogant towards the customers(students), gives a low quality service,and then instead of expecting to get fired,asks for more money!

I do not know what you work as,but how does it work in your world?
(I know that not all lecturers are like this,but from my experience,too many were like that.)
They just don't show up,give out of date notes,act arrogant,do not correct any work,take ages to release any results, and are horrible at their job.
And yes, more funds towards labs, library and other similar projects would be much more well spent, than given to people, who after all most of them have other jobs, which is the reason why they ignore their primary one.
Reminds of when I used to go to hospital waiting for a doctor that never showed up... cause he was working elsewhere.

henry galea

Dec 16th 2008, 21:01

Students if you all think that you are victims, i suggest that adoc find out all the losses due to the dispute and sue the state. Losses, includes housing, burden on you families, delay in graduating one year later, including losses if job, car expenses. Mr. Gonzi should know better, perhaps he forgot the past as a student, sometimes he still think about it and express it in public. Lets not give them a hard time, i blame the authorities they come with funny ideas, they should have informed the university during 2007, so both lecturers and students can look for greener pastures in 2008.

J. Vella

Dec 16th 2008, 20:35

On one hand I really disagree with lectures methods, because with their methods we are suffering, not the government. So a will the government be motivated to give them what they want? I doubt it because it is not directly affecting them. One could say it is because they care about the students but in my opinion that was all a campaign tactic, politicians usually only care about votes. And frankly I am sick of the government trying to turn students against lecturers and the lecturers trying to turn students against the government. If the government really cared they would have done something long ago. And then there's the unions saying the government is all to blame. When I think both sides are not acting to their best abilities.

On the other hand sometimes I feel the lectures frustration, as it seems in this country, if not the world, people have to resort to such tactics or things have to really get bad before someone does something.

Also lectures frustrated at our lack of understanding, how can we understand if you do not explain clearly your motives.

Stephen Piccinino

Dec 16th 2008, 20:21

Mr Casha

What one has to see in these considerations is the value-for-money approach. If a raise is given to lecturers, it has to be assured that the quality of education will indeed rise. Will this be the case? I think the lecturers have to prove themselves in order to show they are meriting of salary increases. It is not a good idea, as always, to generalise, but a level of objectivity has to be reached.

E. Vassallo

Dec 16th 2008, 20:15

@mark Casha

How many times after a day's work we used to go to university in vain because the lecturers do not turn up!!!

A. Briffa

Dec 16th 2008, 20:13

@mark casha,

so what can you tell about lectures who fail students for no reasons??

paul vella

Dec 16th 2008, 19:53

I hope that the MUT,will also do the same with teachers , I mean get a sadisfactory pay rise, and not sign an agreemet in summer without getting the teachers approval, jULY 2007. It should be treating teachers the same ,as we are doing the same work, MUT used to say ,same job same pay...

A. Attard

Dec 16th 2008, 19:40

Unbelievable! The government should resign immediately and call fresh elections! He can't even handle well the lecturers. From March till now all we saw are strikes

J Busuttil

Dec 16th 2008, 19:31

The only solution is for the parties to go before an industral tribunal. MUT please note.

Mark Casha

Dec 16th 2008, 19:27

To all students:

The fact that you as University students do not see the real issue at stake here is to say the least disappointing. We are talking about improving the quality of your education here. Getting funds to supplement your labs, your library. Getting funds for research and for more PhD graduates.

Giving lecturers their overdue pays (by 5 years) is not a perk - its a motivation. A motivation to get more people who have much to contribute to work at University.

You say that your results come out late anyway. And why is that? Maybe because the student to lecturer ratio has increased tenfold from the last collective agreement? Maybe because of the added unpaid administrative work and the Boards that government expects lecturers to sit on?

You let politicians sway you with their rhetoric when you should be thinking with your minds.
Remember this: How many times have politicians lied to you? And how many times have your educators lied to you?

You do know about the secret pay rise members of parliament have given themselves in the meantime do you?

J.Borg

Dec 16th 2008, 19:19

I think that it's about time that all those involved sit around a table ti trash out this thing and reach an agreement.
How come everything has to drag for ages in malta.....

Keith Vella

Dec 16th 2008, 19:14

I question the media ethics of The Times of Malta with the choice of title for such a sensitive issue. I dare you not to publish this so you can prove me right.

J Borg

Dec 16th 2008, 19:02

How about linking 50% of any increments considered to the feed back from students. This is done in universities abroad. SOME (underlined) local lectureres are too arrogant. Nobody complains as they have absolute power. They not only think but actually ARE minature gods. Who gave them so much power? Is there no way they can be nice and helpful?

Albert Gauci Cunningham

Dec 16th 2008, 18:34

I am not a UNI student but if I'm understanding some of you lot right what you are saying is that these lecturers, love them or hate them, should just shut up and put up with anything this arrogant administration lumps them with!!! Very clearly some of you (presuming you're UNI students) have no idea what the world of work is, how far an employer would go to deny you any legal right you might have!! Very clearly you do not know that our ""dear"" Ministers, yes the same ones who are trying to shut the lecturers up and who will probably tell a couple of their acolytes to write on this blog posing as ""poor victims"" of the strike, have given themselves a 290 euros wage increase...........

So before turning the lecturers (like the bus drivers, taxi & minivan drivers, Unions, cafes, self-employed.....) into greedy monsters have a look around you and decide whether the lecturers aren't doing a better job than some of our Ministers!!!!!!!!!!!! If yes than take the increase out of the Ministers pockets and give them to our educators!!!!!!!!!.........to everyone his fair share!!!

R Axisa

Dec 16th 2008, 18:28

When there is a strike, in any sector, there are always persons who fall victims of the strike, sometimes students, sometimes patients, sometimes travellers (air and land). Last summer we all remember how the dead were also victims of a strike called by the hearses' owners. People of a certain age, remember the teachers' strike in the 80s (weren't students victims at that time?), and the doctors' strike in the late 70s (weren't patients victims at that time?). Irrespective of what the issue behind the strike is, there are always some kind of victim. Don't tell me that at that time, things were different. If these students are victims, so were those in the 80s. In a democratic country, people have a right to strike - don't use the victims as a reason for not striking, irrespective of the issue.

John Betts

Dec 16th 2008, 18:04

Quoting the above report: "In a meeting at the Education Ministry on December 9, Umasa asked for negotiations to be reopened on crucial points on which there had already been agreement, because the union’s members did not accept the financial package offered by the government."
I'm afraid the last part of this statement is grossly incorrect. Several members refused to accept not only the financial package, but also a number of the conditions stipulated in the text of the proposed agreement. This regrettable issue is definitely not just about wages, but also about working conditions.

Marcello Savona

Dec 16th 2008, 17:21

why should the lecturers just ask for a pay rise...... what about the rest of the population... arent our services counted for??
why dont we all ask for a justiied pay rise like the lecturers, and like them as well why dont we all just go on strike,,,, after all we are payed low wages compared to the rest of the EU.
Last I heard the doctors and ministers got their rise,,, what about us mr. minister ????

A Coppini

Dec 16th 2008, 17:13

A bad case of deja vu...

lecturers must learn that the education system is not there to serve THEIR needs, but the needs of students. This also goes for most of the administrative staff. As long as these workers remain unprofessional and lackluster in their methods, I do not believe they should be given any salary increase.

You are getting paid a 5-year old salary because you perform like you did 5 years ago. Where is the increased workload? In my experience, content and approach has not changed for the past 10 years!

c.camilleri

Dec 16th 2008, 17:04

@wally vell zarb. It may sound so. But we know that at first the sum demanded was sixty thousand Euros. Probably now because of the public outcry and Govt's response they may have changed their demand.

James Frendo

Dec 16th 2008, 17:02

@m.psaila
You forgot to add, above all, and the academic staff and their families will undoubtedly suffer because of this feet dragging situation brought about by an inconsiderate government who has till now handled poorly this situation and who tries to take advantage of the complains made by students and their families.

m.psaila

Dec 16th 2008, 16:19

And the students will suffer anxiety waiting for results as will their families!

wally vella-zarb

Dec 16th 2008, 16:19

@ c,camilleri

"this excessive pay demand should be refused forthwith. Further more the public is entitled to know what is exactly being demanded so that it can form a good judgment."

Isn't there a 'slight' contradiction in terms, here? ;-)

P Debono

Dec 16th 2008, 15:56

Even though this is shameful behaviour by the lecturers who are supposed to be setting an example to their students, it's not going to make a difference because the lecturers themselves submit the results too late for them to make any sort of impact.

J.Borg

Dec 16th 2008, 15:54

@Charmaine Chetcuti

Let us be clear....Lecturers do not hate their students. You are very very wrong. But lecturers, like doctors, pilots, nurses, etc.... are ALSO workers that need to take action, IF government keeps on ignoring their requests. Unfortunately any industrial action has some kind of consequence, be it in the airport, hospital or University. It is indeed a pity, that Government seems to only start moving when there are industrial actions, but would you keep on working for 5 years with an expired collective agreement and thus a 5 year old salary when your work load keeps on increasing? Clearly, one must love his/her work and hence his/her students to keep on working like this after 5 years!!! ...so please re-think a bit. In these circumstances, it would indeed be much more beneficial for you, if you have motivated and more lecturers ...so it is much better that you and your Student Associations/Unions re-direct your comments to Government and not academics please....

c.camilleri

Dec 16th 2008, 15:51

I hope that this accompanied by a cut in salary even though this will not have much effect on the staff's pockets. I think that Profs, Scicluna is right. Govt should curtail its expenditure starting with the huge salaries being demanded by the staff of JC and University. The Country is passing through a rough time and this excessive pay demand should be refused forthwith. Further more the public is entitled to know what is exactly being demanded so that it can form a good judgment.

J Grima

Dec 16th 2008, 15:49

Err guys... stressful? Why stressful? This will only show their attitude towards the students and worsen their position. Our dear lecturers do not realise that they can only achieve what they want if, and only if, they have their students' support.

It amazes me that they are trying to pose for logicians and strategic thinkers and then cripple the people whose support they need.

R. Bartolo

Dec 16th 2008, 15:35

Are these the same lecturers who always give out the results so late that by then they would have lost all meaning?
Cause if yes, I doubt any student would notice a difference.

Charmaine Chetcuti

Dec 16th 2008, 15:20

I'm starting to believe that lecturers really hate their students! Why should students suffer from a situation which they have nothing to do with? Lecturers are really setting a good example!!!!

Where are the university students' associations?????

James Frendo

Dec 16th 2008, 15:17

Please direct your comments about this situation to the government. Its definitely its fault that it has not come up with a reasonable package that seriously addresses the lack of resources and investment at University.

Nadia Camilleri

Dec 16th 2008, 15:10

and once again it is the students (who have absolutely no blame in this situation) who are going to suffer ...

James Frendo

Dec 16th 2008, 15:02

The report should reflect the exact facts not just a part of them. Several other measures were mentioned including lecturers not submitting exam papers. One has to highlight the fact that examinations for 1st semester will only be held starting January 2009. So government is being given abundant time to reflect on its position. Which btw has been described as being arrogant and also disrespective by the union officials. This attitude it seems is in line with that which other ministers seem to be adopting more fervently in this legislature.

Ruth Grima

Dec 16th 2008, 14:56

Brilliant....just brilliant!! the students being used all over again, as if last june's chaos was not enough! What's not handing in results going to achieve??? excpet more stress on the students ourselves. what did we do to deserve this????