KSU calls for talks to resolve university lecturers' dispute

Aishwarya Maya

Dec 19th 2008, 22:33

I cannot grasp the concept that the government has in mind for making Malta a Centre for Excellence if Dr Gonzi does not support the University and its lecturers. TO make Malta a centre for excellence Dr Gonzi has to focus his resorces on THE UNIVERSITY and **NOT** MCAST!!

It's shameful that lecturers do not have a decent wage and one note which nobody ever mentions is that the government does not adequately support RESEARCH! Looking at the IT industry here... There is no innovation in Malta. Innovation comes from research, and how can we move forward if the government does not support it? I'm baffled when I hear that Gonzi wants to make Malta an IT hub and a centre of excellence. He has no idea what that means.

J. Borg

Dec 18th 2008, 21:37

@carmen caruana

Thanks Ms Caruana for looking at lecturers with a different and honest view.

If Government really (!?) wants Malta to make Malta a Centre of Excellence in Education....it needs .... good quality and motivated lecturers..... It is interesting to check how many lecturers are actually full-time and how many part-time. The trend of full-time lecturers switching to part-time has increased in the last 12 months. Unless conditions of full-time academic staff improve, students and thus KSU will be facing many more part-time lecturing staff.

@KSU
KSU stated that ...that no party should use the students as a negotiating tool. Academics FULLY agree but can KSU also tell UMASA and MUT what to do after being patient with Government for 5 years? I think that UMASA and MUT have shown in a **factual way*** that they do not agree with actions as these always somewhat hit students ...they have waited for 5 years...trying to get a new collective agreement. But now after 5 years, is there a real, alternative way of how to get things moving ??

Isabelle Calleja

Dec 18th 2008, 18:24

a university is only as good as its lecturers.....and internationally a university is rated only on one criteria and again that is its lecturers...government, society and the student body need to understand and appreciate this.!!!!!!!!.........bricks and motar do not a unversity make..depleted of its lecturers its becomes just one more building project!!!!!!!!

C. Borg

Dec 18th 2008, 18:19

Maybe the KSU should specify what type of action Lecturers can take that would not in any way effect the students' life. If KSU are complaining that even by boycotting boards they are hindering students...I really don't know if there is an action that UMASA can come up with, without KSU complaining. Is KSU implying that lecturers should bend over backwards and accept the wage decrease being offered by the government? Because that's what it really is, a wage decrease for lecturers who at the moment get paid extra to teach in the evenings, the government is extending their working hours to avoid paying extra.

It is about time that KSU get their act together, get involved in the discussions and ensure that whatever measures are being taken will result in a benefit to the student. Have you ever heard of a lecturer being fired? I haven't - I wish students stand along the Unions to ensure that the right and necessary conditions are in the collective agreement. KSU stop siding with the government, stop being passive, start doing your job properly and represent the student force. Insite is doing a better job!

P Debono

Dec 18th 2008, 18:08

This is why the University will never be a reputable centre of education. In fact, official surveys don't even place Malta in the TOP 500 Universities in the world!!!!!!! And these lecturers want a raise!!

Malvin Debono

Dec 18th 2008, 15:10

@ Carmen Caruana

With respect your comments are the sort that are not needed in this debate, both because of their partisanism as well as because of the fact that they are flawed. The university doesn't only need investment in wages but also in infrastructure. This is terribly important as lecturers might find that their hands are tied because of a lack of investment. And whilst acknowledging that the majority of lecturers are hard working people who care about their work and students, an increase in wages will not solve the fact that a large number of them turn up late or not at all, or even worse give out results as if they are playing the lotto. Either the university is going to look inward and reinvent itself or it is going to stagnate as an institution that is capable of only producing meagre results with the exception of a few.

lgalea

Dec 18th 2008, 14:12

Terence Sacco
You should ask Gonzipn and the Minister for Education not UMASA and MUT

M Azzopardi

Dec 18th 2008, 10:45

AT LAST!... Some student representatives make their voice heard... It is high time that students realise that government's disdain towards academics is equivalent to contempt towards the students too.

It might surprise the government to discover that the University does not consist of the collection of buildings at Tal-Qroqq. A University is created from the symbiotic relationship between veteran academics (Lecturers) and junior academics (Students) to SHARE and CREATE new knowledge.

Therefore, any lack of support and investment in the former MUST be to the detriment of the latter. It's an inescapable truth. Investment in the University should start with attracting and retaining the best academics. But the government is planning to do the exact opposite. Many already have their suitcases packed!

It is shameful that the government of a knowledge-based society finds ways of scorning, disrespecting and wasting the time of the nation's only hope to survive in the future.

It is becoming increasingly evident that elements within this government hold a grudge against this University. Perhaps it's because they hold preference to their new baby - MCAST. Or maybe it is just the classic sour grapes reaction.

carmen caruana

Dec 18th 2008, 10:22

Okkk......as a uni student we're concerned abt our credits bla bla but what about the real situation?!
There were those lovely candidates that in the last election weren't elected, so our dear prime minister being a socialist gave them a big sum of money because they were going to be unemployed, jahasra poor guys.
Just remember, at university thousands of students graduate every year with the help of those lecturers at uni. It's my second year and i think our lecturers till now are very helpfull and do their job very well and for people that WORK i think that the government have to meet their needs.
Many workers gave up to this government, starting from the Dockyard workers and I really wish that our lecturers give a hard time to a government that have to look up for the meaning of RESPECT!!!

Terence Sacco

Dec 18th 2008, 09:36

I would like the concerned authorities to further explain their actions regarding the end-of-semester exams, if possible.

Are the students going to be given the credits they studied in the first semester? Will they be forced to sit for all the exams in the May session?

While it is both UMASA's and MUT's right and duty to defend their members' rights, students should not be used as pawns in this dispute. The concerned authorities should hold meetings to solve this dispute. Nevertheless, until this dispute is solved, students are going to remain victims of the mentioned actions.

Terence Sacco
University Student