ICT courses start after two-month delay
Courses contracted by private institutions for students enrolled on the MCAST Foundation Certificate in Computing, the MCAST/BTEC First Diploma for IT Practitioners and the MCAST/BTEC National Diploma in Computing have now started, Mcast said this afternoon.
It said it would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the full training programmes, identical to the ones being delivered on the college's main campus, would be delivered in good time.
"This means that students shall progress normally to higher levels of studies."
The courses were contracted to private institutions because demand exceeded Mcast's capacity in terms of human and physical resources.
Mcast explained that in an attempt to minimise the chance of such occurrences repeating themselves, its tender had this year provided for a three-year assimilation exercise. Agreement had also been reached with two private training bidders with regard to the distribution of student numbers over the same period. As a result the delays in course delivery experienced over the last couple of years should not feature again in the future.
It said the current situation came about as a result of circumstances completely beyond its control.
"At the same time, the college would like to take this opportunity to encourage all IT students to look forward to the progression opportunities which Mcast offers. Suffice it to say that in September 2009, Mcast launched its first set of degree programmes at the Institute of Information and Communication Technology. These degrees are specifically designed for students who successfully complete their Higher National Diploma studies. Students now have the opportunity to read for a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Networks or a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Software Development at Mcast."
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Peter Scerri
Nov 17th 2009, 14:51
I came at MCAST to get a professional computer training and certification, something which I have found at Paola Campus for now. However from what I have learnt even during classes, the training providers used to give the answers of class assignment to the students. I was shocked to hear one of my classmates coming from one of these centres, directly ask the lecturer to tell us the answers while we were working on the class assignment, as they used to do last year.
What doesn't make sense is that other students and I who do all our effort to pass and get good grades, are being dumbed by employers because of the low quality of the majority of the students who manage to graduate. Another friend of mine, older than me, was turned down immediately by a software development company, because it told him that they had very bad experiences with many previous MCAST ICT graduates. And I've heard this story over and over again.
That is the worth of the MCAST ICT Certificate! I would prefer failing because I don't deserve it, than pass so that the centre appears nice. But then what about a job?
Alexander Gauci
Nov 16th 2009, 19:23
@Jan Willem van Avendonk Yes I have heard about these cases and its not fair.. and I cannot understand how some that got a FAIL turned their result into a "MAGICAL" PASS and now they got their diploma... and what about the criteria system ? Someone has to check what's happening.
Michael Mangion
Nov 16th 2009, 19:10
So this year the students will start 2 months late just like last year. Last year MZPN blamed Hon Evarist Bartolo for this delay. Where are MZPN this year? Who are they going to blame this year? This is an "inefficiency certificate" to the government and to the MInistry of Education in particular!
A. Borg
Nov 16th 2009, 19:05
Brandon Caruana Something else you will enjoy in Mosta is that you will have a fixed schedule for example from 11am to 3pm while at MCAST at Paola on Tuesday and Friday my son has 3 hours free period from one lesson to the next one! He cursed the day he went to MCAST! Go and enjoy your stay in Mosta.
Jan Willem van Avendonk
Nov 16th 2009, 18:55
@ Alexander Gauci I also am suffering from the situation you are,and to make matters worse i heard that some students who had a fail were promoted to HND and that another student was given the assignment resit 5 TIMES while me being denied a review since all i got in the third sit was just part of a question which the answer was 255.255.255.128 and i wrote 255.255.128 , i knew it was wrong as soon as i walked out sent the teacher an email informing her and so on but nothing changed. while other students in another class resitted for the 4th or 5th time, nice equality
Alexander Gauci
Nov 16th 2009, 18:33
Well... this is the truth with MCAST ICT its flooded with students and yes it's true the private schools are better than the main campus, when I applied my first year was at a private school and the second year of the course I was sent to Paola then in the second year I failed a subject, I was told that I could repeat it this year... well they have never send and when I go and check its always the same story.. Shouldn't I have another chance ? I'm not the only one in this situation but I think we have been forgotten.
B. Pollacco
Nov 16th 2009, 18:13
@Brandon Caruana I attend the B&C course in Paola and everyday i have to catch TWO buses to go to school as well as TWO to greturn home after a long day. The school even organised(for those students who are till 3:30 and 4:30) a Van to valletta with the same price as the bus fee(0.50c) so you should talk to whoever is in charge and ask them to do the same
A. Borg
Nov 16th 2009, 17:04
Brandon Caruana ,
My son spend 2 years for the same course in Mosta and this year is at MCAST in Paola., Mosta is 100% better because there you're given individual attention because of the few students that attend there. On the contrary at Paola you're just a number as hundreds attend there. My son and other students living in the south of Malta hired a Mini-Bus to take them there and the fee was approx. the same as taking 4 buses a day.I recommend you to do the same.
Adrian Borg
Nov 16th 2009, 16:21
@ Brandon Caruana
So you are suggesting that I, who got more O levels than you, should be sent to Mosta so that you can have just a 10 minute walk? For your information, I would have to catch one bus to Mosta, and two to Paola.
Yet , I prefer Paola than Mosta.
Next time, you should have thought this out before and spent more time studying!
Brandon Caruana
Nov 16th 2009, 16:09
So sick of all this lack of thought. So I live just 10 mins away by walk from the MCAST main campus in Paola, and I have been sent to Mosta. Why don't they sort them according to where they live rather to what position they are in the order of Merit. I have to spend an extra €9.40 each week to catch 4 buses a day. This will cost me nearly half of my stipend. Will I be refunded for this in any sort of way?