I welcome the environmental aspect to the American University of Malta debate. Yet, at this point I would like to say something about the educational aspect because, as I see it, there is a possibility that this project might have a negative impact on the development of higher education in this country.
To begin with, I must make myself clear that the Opposition is in no way against further investment in higher education, nor is it against private investment, as the past has witnessed.
The problem with the American University of Malta project is that the true motives behind the deal give rise to suspicion.
It seems the project is more about land speculation than about education. If this is the case, then the government is exploiting the importance of education rather than investing in what is the common good of Maltese society.
The real motive should be that of bringing new levels of proficiency in different areas of study, which would be beneficial to the social, cultural and economic health of our country. This has nothing to do with building a university for foreign students in the south of Malta. Such a development will not educate future generations.
To define the Żonqor project as one of national or educational importance is wrong and dishonest because it seems that there is very little going on from an educational point of view.
Firstly, would this Sadeem Group, known for building hotels, be competent at delivering the high standards required from a university? This is questionable. We must also bear in mind the failed attempt by the government to portray the AUM as being run by DePaul University of Chicago.
To justify his stand, Joseph Muscat spoke of monopolies in tertiary education, meaning that the University of Malta is a monopoly that should end. This is not the case.
Way back in 2010, the present Minister of Education, Evarist Bartolo, had said that monopoly at the University of Malta was “dead and buried”. Furthermore, the chairman of the National Commission for Further and Higher Education declared that “there are currently 99 further and higher education institutions in Malta”, including “14 [that]are publicly funded by the government and 81 [which] are private locally-funded institutions”.
One gets the impression this North-South option is more of an excuse to sell a product of a somewhat dubious quality
These were all possible thanks to the way that the previous government created the right environment for this to happen by promoting excellence, unlike this government that brought down standards to accommodate this new so-called investment, irrespective of what was said by the National Commission for Further and Higher Education.
Just a few days ago, the Malta Union of Teachers raised its concerns over the proposed Legal Notice 150 that, coincidentally, was published at the time the heads of agreement was signed.
The Nationalist Opposition has also presented a motion against this legal notice in Parliament.
Moreover, one should also take into account the fact that the University of Malta does not work in isolation as it is networked with other universities abroad, a point made by several academics.
Yet, it was not just the university that profited from the PN administration’s efforts in the field of tertiary education. The success behind Mcast is certainly an example of pluralism in the sector. The presence of other campuses and institutions that offer accredited degrees is considered favourably by all the authorities concerned while online courses leading to degrees by established universities as well as studying overseas has been encouraged for many years.
The truth is that the only monopoly in relation to tertiary education in Malta lies somewhere in the imagination of the current occupier of Castille.
Furthermore, going by what has been said about the need to upgrade the South and how critics of their ‘university’ are in reality envious Northerners, one gets the impression that we are living in pre-civil war United States. One might even imagine a voice shouting in deep Southern drawl: “save your confederate money boys, the South will rise again.”
On a more serious note, questions should be asked as on how this project will benefit the area under discussion. Will the money used for land acquisition go to further develop the South? Will there be jobs reserved for people living in this area?
Marsascala does not come across as a severely depressed area. It is rather middle class, with people sharing a standard of living not that much different from the rest of Malta. Rather, one gets the impression that this North-South option is more of an excuse to sell a product of a somewhat dubious quality, to say the least.
I sincerely think this government is going round in circles when it comes to education. I’d rather see more investment in the University of Malta, which would lead to more foreign students enrolling here, because it is imperative that it remains as sustainable as possible. After all, in education, it is our future generations that matters and the University of Malta plays a crucial role in that.
Justin Schembri is a Nationalist Party electoral candidate.