Over 3,800 hours of lectures lost at Mcast
Hundreds of students from the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology lost 3,878 hours of lectures since the opening of the scholastic year, opposition education spokesman Evarist Bartolo said.
He said the situation was brought about by a shortage of teachers and poor administration.
"Unfortunately, the students worst affected were those doing the foundation courses, the ones that need the most attention," he said when contacted to explain.
The information about the number of lost hours at Mcast was given by Education Minister Dolores Cristina in response to a parliamentary question by Mr Bartolo.
While most of the courses have a missed-hour rate of under 50, nine courses in particular have much higher rates. Since the beginning of the academic year, those following the maths foundation course missed 572 hours and those following the English foundation course missed 192.
Mr Bartolo said this demonstrated a serious lack of planning by the authorities and the situation was leading many students to give up or drop out.
The government downplayed the comments, saying the college administration did not have control over absenteeism by lecturers.
"During the academic year, a number of lecturers left the college or had to miss lectures for various reasons. Some had to take maternity or parental leave, rights allowed by law. Others fell sick and could not attend class or left for better job opportunities in Malta and abroad," the government said.
A lecturer is not an object you can just buy whenever you need, it added. "Even when you find capable people who are ready to fill in the vacancies, according to law these have to give notice to their current employers, which might take time."
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
4 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
J.F. Vassallo Ebejer
Feb 27th 2009, 17:49
I cannot understand Government’s response as reported here. Of course this is a clear sign of lack of planning!! Even private companies employ people – some of them employ relatively large workforces - but you‘ll not hear of them losing production to such an extent. Rather than trying to “shoot down the messenger” the Government spokesperson should have explained how Government will, in the short, medium and long term, solve the issue of the serious lack of teachers all across the spectrum. One of the reasons for this lack is the lousy salaries on offer, and as long as this situation persists, we will not attract high flyers. We need successful, keen people who are willing, and able, to take our children to high levels in SET, in all subjects, and to instill in them a passion for learning and for success. We owe it to our children to give them the best education possible – and at the end of the day, it is in the country’s direct interest to ensure this. The more educated and capable our children are, the richer the county will be.
Franco Farrugia
Feb 27th 2009, 16:40
@ C Micallef - I quite agree with you. I am a teacher, and believe me, it feels sooooo good having holidays while everyone else is at work. I really love it. You have no idea how great it feels - imagine, that whole summer waiting for you. So many months of holidays, I simply forget that I am working! I cherish those holidays so much ... it's great to be a teacher. Mr Micallef, why don't you hop onto the gravy wagon! The gravy itself is flowing out of the wagon and creating puddles between your feet!
Joanne Micallef
Feb 27th 2009, 14:03
This is nothing less than a National Disgrace, and I presume that as usual no one will be held accountable for this shortfall.
C Micallef
Feb 27th 2009, 11:39
I greatly believe that the greatest incentive to make one go for a teaching career is the conditions of work mainly the 3.5 months of holidfays and short days at work rather than the salary package. So, I think that if MCAST lectureres have similar conditions to other teachers, you will probably solve the problem of shortage of lecturers.