Our education is not a bargaining tool - KSU

The University Students Council - KSU urged the unions of lecturers and teachers and the University to push forward without delay with negotiations over a new collective agreement for lecturers.

The level of Higher Education in Malta should be kept on the forefront, and should be the context within which both parties engage in this negotiation process, KSU said in a statement at the end of a meeting of a number of students organisations, yesterday.

"Students have the right to learn and study in a serene environment. KSU, together with 20 student organisations on campus and the rest of the student body, believe that the effect of the current situation is being felt by the students with no distinction..."

"Our education is not a bargaining tool," KSU insisted.

The KSU was referring to the current impasse between the University and the University of Malta Academic Staff Association and the Malta Union of Teachers in talks over a new collective agreement for the lecturers.

The unions ordered all full-time and part-time academic staff at the University and the Junior College to withhold all end-of-semester examination papers. If the exams have been held or their papers have already been submitted, then the scripts are not to be collected.

The unions have also directed their members to boycott all University and Junior College boards, departments, committees, sub-committees, faculties and senate meetings, excluding any research fund committee, academic work resources funds, staff development and scholarship committees and interviews to recruit new staff.

The academic staff was also instructed to withhold any results related to continuous assessment.

KSU said in it is unacceptable that students have to go through this distress repetitively and feels that it is now high time that conclusion of the negotiations is reached as soon as possible.

"This will be to the benefit not only to the parties involved but more importantly to the students and to the Higher Education levels in Malta. The adherence to directives will hinder University's main functions leaving permanent damage on the institution," KSU said insisting that both parties should refrain from maintaining the current situation.

Further concerns of students include the cessation of Senate functioning.

KSU said that if all major decisions are not taken, the functioning of University as a holistic institution will be jeopardised. KSU urged for more goodwill between the parties as this is the most tangible and most beneficial way in which the negotiations can proceed.

KSU pointe out that this delay in the start of examinations breaches the University regulations.

KSU highlighted the fact that should examinations be held beyond the already set dates, this will have major repercussions that all the parties concerned need to strive to prevent in the process of these negotiations.

KSU feels that not holding examinations would mean a great injustice as this will disrupt the pragmatics of University. Moreover, such a situation poses a threat on the reputation the academia currently holds in both national and international fora. University graduates and lecturers will feel the repercussion of such actions for years to come.

KSU reiterated its call upon students to keep on preparing for exams and to hand in all assignments on time.

KSU also urged anyone requiring additional information to contact it on 9927 2760 and 9927 2780 or send an e-mail on info@ksu.org.mt.

KSU said its statement was endorsed by the following organisations: AEGEE- Valletta, AIESEC, ASCS, Beta Psi, CommA, ELSA, JEF-Malta, GħSL, GħST, IAESTE, Insite, ICTSA, KSJC, MKSU, MMSA, MUSC, Pulse, S-cubed, SDM and SIFE.