Opposition leader Simon Busuttil this morning presented a parliamentary motion calling for an urgent discussion on a legal notice which the Opposition views as reducing the requirements for institutions to be recognised as universities. 

Dr Busuttil said that the legal notice, introduced by the government without any discussion, lwas meant to give an advantage the new business concern to be established by the Sadeen Group of Jordan at Zonqor in Marsascala.

This move would have a serious effect on the University of Malta as it was indirectly lowering the value of the Maltese university, including its degrees. 

The egal notice was a blow to the reputation of the University of Malta, its academic staff and past, present and future students.

Dr Busuttil urged all NGO’s including environmental and educational associations to stand up and be counted against the government’s arrogant plans.

See the comments by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil above. 

In a reaction, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo denied that the quality of university accreditation has been reduced and said that the recent changes in the legal notice had nothing to do with the Jordanian investment at Zonqor.

“On the contrary, we have even tightened the requirements of accreditation to make sure that we have more quality.”

Asked to explain why the government inserted a new clause that accreditation can be given “in the national interest”, Mr Bartolo said that while it was true that this was added recently he said that this was intended to promote the internationalisation of Maltese accredited Universities.

“I can tell you that these changes have nothing to do with the American University project”, he underlined.

He said that the government was insisting with the Commission for Higher Education to keep standards high and that “no one is going to buy an accreditation.”

He said that the Commission was independent even though its members were nominated by the government.