Why University exams have to be in English
Education Minister Dolores Cristina has explained in Parliament why University students are being required to submit their exam work in English and not Maltese.
Replying to questions by Labour MP Evarist Bartolo, she said that a legal notice issued in October last year had confirmed the long-existing practice with regard to the languages which could be used for exams and assessments. In the past, there were students who were allowed to submit their work in Maltese, she admitted, but this was not with the approval of the Senate.
The minister said the Senate was insisting on its policy for all courses at the University (except language studies) for various reasons.
Among them was the fact that English was the preferred medium for higher education across the world. This meant that most literature available for researchers, in practically all disciplines, was in English.
Malta needed to have students who were competent in the use of English in all areas of their studies so that they could compete with students abroad.
It was ultimately beneficial for the students to develop their English language skills, something which many other far bigger countries also desired.
Mrs Cristina said the University should not distinguish between exams and study units. All assessments and study units were important and should be submitted in the same manner. It would be unfair, even to the students, to be allowed to submit some work in Maltese and the rest in English. Furthermore, foreign examiners, who did not know Maltese, had a right to see all study units, and they, therefore, all had to be in English.
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Rev Joe Inguanez
Mar 18th 2010, 23:42
I agree with Senate that ALL assessments and exams should be held in English (with the exception of language and literature. The University of Leuven (Flemish Belgium) hold almost all courses in English to attract foreign students.... I think we should imitate them. Maltese should remain an entry requirement because it is our National Language: and we should proud of if. Two days ago I was travelling by coach from Heathrow to Oxford. A gentlemen near me saw me reading a book in Maltese. He asked what language was I reading. He had some level of knowledge of Arabic. He was extremely that a nation of 400,000 had its own language and literature. The moral of the story is that Maltese students should be well read in both Maltese and English... and given the size of our population we have to continue using books written in foreign languages esp English.
R Agius
Mar 18th 2010, 15:22
Can the Minister please let us know when she intends to drop the requirement to know Maltese to enter University especially now that exams have to be taken in English. This rule is excluding many students from English speaking families from entering University. This rule is resulting in students being brought up to hate the Maltese language, aggravates parents who struggle to ram the Maltese language down their children's throats and adds stress to O Level examination preparation.
The exclusion of these students from University is benefiting no one - not the students, or their families or the the economy. Least of which it is doing no good to furthering the Maltese language.
T Camilleri
Mar 18th 2010, 16:40
Why should they be english-only speakers when they are in Malta? If they are here they should learn OUR language.
T Camilleri
Mar 18th 2010, 14:55
Did Mrs Cristina ever hear about translators?
You clearly show which party you come from, a party that always did its best to relegate the Maltese language to the kitchen as history bears out.