A directive to withhold the annual results of non-final year students at the University of Malta and the Junior College was lifted yesterday following a breakthrough in talks over the collective agreement of academic staff.

The government said the deadlock was broken during a meeting between the Education Minister, the Malta Union of Teachers and the University of Malta Academic Staff Association.

It added that there was common ground, which could lead to an agreement over the dispute that had led to an uproar among thousands of students who had been anxiously waiting for their results.

A spokesman said that almost all students’ results were expected to be posted online last night.

The University Students’ Council (KSU) had warned it would stage protests if progress was not registered by the end of the month, which was the deadline for the academic staff to publish exam results.

It also lambasted the directives issued by the academic staff lamenting their decision to use students as “bargaining tool” during negotiations.

Two days ago, the students’ body started a petition, which had been signed by about 2,500 people, including Opposition leader Simon Busuttil.

The Nationalist Party welcomed the development, arguing that the government was forced to take action due to the pressure mounted by Dr Busuttil.

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