These past months we have witnessed with dismay the government taking measures that, in one way or another, lower the standard of higher education in Malta.

When Evarist Bartolo was in Opposition he used to try to rubbish the standard of education in our country, especially at post-secondary and tertiary level. He accused the government of not regulating institutions and giving them a free rein.

As Education Minister he controls them in the name of national interest, disrespecting standards and processes whose main function is specifically to protect education from ministerial interference.

Today he has cornered himself and, in an attempt to defend the uncomfortable position in which he finds himself having to justify the lowering of academic standards in higher education, he resorts to petty politics. Of course, it is easier to dwell on the past and rehash your old words rather than stand up and account for your decisions.

But students, lecturers, educators and parents do not have time to waste.  They deserve the highest standards of quality and the chance for their efforts to gain true value and recognition across different systems.

Students want security that the certificate they work for has more value than the paper on which it is printed. Lecturers and educators do not need a patron but an objective system that registers their development and gives it recognition.

Our educators and lecturers do not ask for a favour but for freedom in continuing to raise quality in education within an objective and independent system. Dependence on political power does neither of these any good.

The proposed changes to the regulations lower the requirements necessary for the set-up of a new university. Today, we have a legal notice that makes a mockery of the edifice of standards, proposing terrible changes, aimed primarily at appeasing those who want to exploit Malta’s repute in the area of University education, riding on our reputation without necessarily living up to the requirements of a modern and civil society.

Political interference is not in the national interest

These changes remove the backbone of the regulations by changing the very definition of ‘University’ as we are used to it and as we wanted to be when attracting new providers to Malta.

Political interference in objective and independent systems is not in the national interest since it eats at the system’s credibility and value. One cannot stress enough how crucial credibility is in these matters.

Ultimately, the value of any diploma or certificate depends on the prestige and reputation of the institution that has issued it. Inversely any damage to the reputation of that institution tarnishes also the work of lecturers and students within that institution.

This is where the latest gimmick of the government concerning Mcast is worrying the Opposition. The Nationalist Party set up Mcast twice: first in the years immediately following Independence and then, again, in 2000 after Labour had closed it down in 1970. On the second occasion, the new Mcast was harshly criticised by the Labour Party, including Bartolo who lamented the end of the notorious ‘trade schools’ where young people used to be pigeonholed and labelled from an early age as unsuitable for an academic education.

Mcast is part of the rich educational heritage that Malta enjoys. We are indeed proud of it as we are of each and every lecturer, student and administrative member who each day strives to raise the bar.

It is therefore not in the national interest for the minister to usurp powers which belong to NCFHE and with a stroke of the pen decide to give Mcast a self-accrediting power for postgraduate degrees. The Opposition is asking where this proposal came from. Was it Mcast administrators who asked for it ? If this is the case and a study was carried out to assess the feasibility, it should be published.

Has the National Commission for Higher Education made any recommendations on the basis of this? If so, why hasn’t it published such recommendations? What grounds does the minister have to dip his finger in the process of accreditation?

These are all legitimate questions that need to be asked. This institution is essential to the vocational education and training of our youths and workers; its degrees and diplomas will be much more valid and acceptable if accredited independently.

In itself, it is good that Mcast students obtain Master’s degrees and postgraduate diplomas but we have to ensure that, when Mcast starts accrediting these courses, it will be doing so with the same proficiency as if the process is carried out independently.

The minister does not content himself with a finger in the Mcast pie only but continues to prejudice the credibility and value of our education system by giving anyone a licence to operate as a university even where the already lowered requirements are not met. Our answer is loud and clear: we stand for the highest standards of education based on objective and independent processes. We are not blinded by doubtful liaisons.

Therese Comodini is Shadow Minister for Education and George Pullicino is spokesman for Early Education.

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