The Education Ministry’s former permanent secretary is claiming he was a scapegoat when he was forced to resign in the wake of the student EU funds’ suspension saga.

Breaking his nine-month silence in an article in The Sunday Times today (page 18), Christopher Bezzina said the waythe government handled the funds’ suspension issue was intended merely to cause the leastembarrassment to itself.

The Lifelong Learning and Youth In Action programmes were suspended last May after the European Commission cast doubts over the management of funds. Three senior education officials resigned over the affair.

Just last week, the Commission only partially lifted the suspension saying the funds’ management had still not reached the level required.

In a 1,400-word contribution, laced with quotes about the true qualities of leadership, Prof. Bezzina said the Board of Inquiry appointed to probe the issue was well aware he was not to blame for any mismanagement.

Prof. Bezzina said he acted with the full support of his minister, Dolores Cristina.

He said that while a “biased jury” concluded he had not informed his superiors, what failed to emerge from the Board of Inquiry’s proceedings was the mismanagement from people of higher authority than his office, even higher than the minister’s, as well as the mismanagement within the European Union Programmes Agency. However, he declines to mention names.

Prof. Bezzina also gives his impression of the way the civil service operates following his short time at the helm of the ministry after 11 years at the Faculty of Education.

“Working within the civil service has shown me that networking among the top officials is extremely strong and is based on work practices that are there to safeguard the boys (or girls!) irrespective of what they do.

“Taking action, remaining detached and blaming others was felt as the way forward. In spite of discussions held, the government officials who had vested interests in the matter ended up offering my scalp in spite of the fact that 16 months earlier I had been described as the ‘new broom’”.

He said it was not the first time he found himself facing an arrogant attitude over the way things had to evolve – as long as there was agreement to what ‘big brother’ had to say, then it was fine.

“If you objected, if you presented counter arguments, then you had a problem, potentially even with ‘players’ who occupied a lower position than yourself in the civil service hierarchy but were within the inner circle.

“I was not willing to play their game and in spite of the fact that I did things with the minister’s support and approval, I ended up being a victim.”

When contacted, Principal Permanent Secretary Godwin Grima said the Board of Inquiry set up to investigate the matter – composed of Marlene Bonnici, Veronica Nardelli and David Muscat – was specific in its conclusions, and administrative responsibility had to be shouldered.

On the basis of the conclusions of the inquiry, Prof. Bezzina’s resignation was accepted as definite.

“Prof. Bezzina had ample opportunity to present his case to the Board of Inquiry in May 2010. At no stage did he mention, let alone provide supporting evidence for, (these) allegations of mismanagement from people of higher authority than his office,” Dr Grima said.

In a statement yesterday, Labour spokesman for education Owen Bonnici said students and lecturers were disappointed that Ms Cristina had still not resolved the administrative mistakes in connection with the students’ funds issue.

“Instead of saying she was disappointed with the European Commission, Ms Cristina should answer the legitimate questions raised by all sides.”

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