Lecturers' actions worry students' organisation

The social democrat student organisation Pulse expressed concern over planned actions by the lecturers' unions, saying that if exams are not done students will either not be given their credits or will have to do all their exams at once.

Although the organisation said it agreed with the need for the unions to protect their members' rights, this should not be done to the detriment of students.

The comments follow a call by the University of Malta Academic Staff Association and the Malta Union of Teachers to all academic staff at the University and the Junior College to withhold all end-of-semester examination papers. If the exams were held or papers already submitted, then the scripts are not to be collected, the unions have instructed members.

Pulse yesterday called for the University Students' Council to be more proactive and protect the rights of students through consultation with them.

Meanwhile, the General Workers' Union expressed its full support to the MUT and Umasa in their dispute with the government over the revision of the collective agreement for academic staff at the University.

While it urged all those involved to restart negotiations as soon as possible, the GWU appealed for common sense to prevail so that a fair solution is found for the good of students.

The GWU called on the government to soften its position and find a way to bridge the gap with the unions.