I refer to Therese Comodini Cachia’s knockabout article as shadow minister for education entitled ‘No victory without losers’ (September 18).
It’s a pity that she could not stop her hyperbole running away with her when it came to her comments about the accreditation agency.
In a garbled paragraph, she stated: “The Prime Minister wants this licence to be issued and God forbid the accreditation agency does not bow its head or actually defend itself from any criticism indicating otherwise, rather than defending itself from the Prime Minister wanting to meddle with its independence.”
Yes, I found it difficult to understand, too.
What I, as the chairman of the National Commission for Further and Higher Education responsible for the accreditation process, can categorically assure her is that no pressure has been placed on my commission for the licence to be issued.
The Prime Minister recognises fully that my commission is independent under the law and that it will be following the due diligence processes laid down to the letter.
The credibility of Malta’s education regulatory authority – to which she rightly attaches the greatest importance - is in absolutely no danger of the kind she so feverishly describes. I and my board, and indeed my commission, are determined to perform the job we have been set up to do honestly, objectively and with complete transparency.
Yet, despite all the evidence to the contrary, she persists with her calumny that this is a done deal. It is distressing to find politics intruding into an area which should be above it and the integrity of the education regulatory authority being questioned in this way.
Accreditation, as she knows, is an iterative process. As a matter of normal procedure, my staff support all applicants in revising and improving their applications so that the required standards laid down are met – or not, as the case may be.
Though she may wish it were otherwise, I can assure her that there will be no lowering of standards and the methodology being adopted will be transparent,correct and within the strict rules set down under the law.