André Chetcuti, St Julians
Labour's half-baked education proposals
As usual Labour comes out with half-baked proposals. First it proposed that the government take imports under its wing, hence goodbye to liberalisation; then we had Joseph Muscat promising he would move a Private Member's Bill for the introduction of divorce, would give a free vote to the Labour MPs and would not include it in Labour's electoral manifesto, and now, the third but not least mind-boggling Labour proposal is to set up a second University to introduce competition in the higher levels of education (March 13).
Education has certainly never been Labour's forte. Old Labour had shut Mcast down, removed several University courses and introduced the infamous numerus clausus for University students. New Labour had come out with the ludicrous pre-2008 general election proposal to introduce a repeater's class at kindergarten level.
Can Labour explain in detail what it really wants now? For example, can Dr Muscat say who is meant to run this new University, the public or private sector? Can he elaborate and explain whether students attending this second University will be charged tuition fees? If this tertiary education is to be free, who will finance the expense? If students are to be charged, can he confirm that Labour has just thrown the concept of free education for all out of its electoral programme?
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M.Camilleri
Mar 21st 2010, 10:30
@ Aidan Zammit Lupi:
Was it Alfred Sant that could not find €29,000 for 63 or so MCAST students coming from poor middle class and unfortunate families to continue with their studies, when a certain PN Habib tal-hbieb was paid €39,000 for the St George Sq. project which by the way was already paid for when this person was assigned this work prior to his transfer at the Prime Minister's Office. So please, don't try to ridicule.
My daughter is paying €250 per diploma for 3 every diplomas every 2 years when eventually she then has to sit for a BA final exam after her last diploma, which by the way only the BA is recognised. This is going to cost her € 750 and more when she finishes. What do you call this? This is a rip off !! And then comes Gonzi stating that education is the PN's centre nerve of his party's beliefs. Halluna!!
Aidan Zammit Lupi
Mar 23rd 2010, 09:26
Dear Mr or Mrs Camilleri,
I don't think you even read my comment. I was not trying to ridicule anyone, but I wrote about my personal experience growing up in Malta in the 70s/80s and having to leave the country due to discrimination by the MLP.
I'm sorry about your daughter's problems, but how can you even dream of comparing the two situations? No one likes a to pay €250 for a diploma, but it's not exactly an impossible hurdle. I'm talking about being exiled and having to pay thousands and thousands every year. Only huge sacrifice and a hefty bank loan could cover that. You really have no idea how good you've got it today.
laurence schembri
Mar 20th 2010, 22:52
@ c. camilleri
The further the better.
C.camilleri
Mar 20th 2010, 16:22
Half-baked proposals? are you referring to the building in front of St.John's cathedral? Or to the health reform which was sent back to the drawing board? Or the one and only roofless theater which every sane person is opposing? Or the rash implementation of the higher utility tariffs and the brand new sewer tax? Or the removal of the bed tax imposed on the hotels? Or the development which is going to ruin dwejra? Or the hand outs of millions of euros to the bus owners to buy industrial peace? Or the promises to the trappers and hunters? The list is enless.
@ Martinelli
Malta long for your wisdom. Shame that you live so far away.
T Camilleri
Mar 20th 2010, 14:40
What's wrong with another university Andre?
Are you afraid of competition?
Muscat. Pat
Mar 20th 2010, 14:39
I remember the 60's when the average salary was 4.50 sterling per week. Perhaps some accountants can give us a break down of how Mr Average Maltese could afford to send his kids to the Royal University, with such a salary. It is true though, as Mr Zammit Lupi said, some 60.000 Maltese families had to emmigrate abroad in order to survive and yes to send their kids to University!.
Aidan Zammit Lupi
Mar 20th 2010, 15:24
You are a little confused, Mr Muscat. Those are your words not mine. Please have the courtesy not to misquote me.
J Martinelli
Mar 20th 2010, 13:17
Forgive the young leader for his naivety.
"Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing"!
lgalea
Mar 20th 2010, 14:35
If Dr Muscat is naive as you imply, then why is it that you and other pn apologists attack him for everything he says and does and if he doesn't say or do anything on some particular subject you attack him for not speaking or doing something about it?
Muscat Pat
Mar 20th 2010, 10:46
The PN -your Party- stood for Italian as the official language of Malta, until very recently. PN was against the introduction of Maltese as the official language. It considered Maltese as the language of the "sefturi". How could the illiterate Maltese become educated if the PN opposed the introduction of the Maltese? The common Maltese spoke Maltese and did not understand Italian. To get an idea what is all about, try to read and understand the Italo-Maltese kawlata that the lawyers use in their official communications. It was Labour that introduced free and compulsary education and, free university for all; these were the foundations of todays economic and social realities.
Ron Saliba
Mar 20th 2010, 11:08
free university for ALL?!! you re joking right?
Aidan Zammit Lupi
Mar 20th 2010, 13:12
The Labour Party kept some of the best-qualified students out of University in the 80s, just because they happened to have studied in private schools. At a great cost many like myself were forced to leave Malta to continue their education. Some never returned.That is the "free university for all" as conceived by Dom Mintoff and his party. Alfred Sant was the chairman of the university selection board at that time.
lgalea
Mar 20th 2010, 14:39
you are right. It was the PL that introduced whole-day schools because under the PN it was only half days. The PN always opposed anything that was beneficial for the lower classes, pensions, minimum wage, bonuses, equal wages, 52 more days leave because under PN Saturday was a working day, housing, children allowance, you name it. Anything done by the PL was always opposed by the PN.