The University Students' Council yesterday criticised the impasse in talks between the government and trade unions on a collective agreement for lecturers.

The council asked to meet ministers and union leaders over the issue.

Referring to the unions' directive to lecturers not to issue first semester results, it said no party should use students as a negotiating tool.

It has also requested a meeting with the University registrar and the rectorate to draw up a contingency plan in the event the directive is not lifted. "Nonetheless, KSU calls on all students to continue preparing for the January examination period and hand in any assignments on time," it said.

KSU said the unions' decision to boycott boards or committees would slow down the decision-making process at the University and would hinder students appealing decisions taken by the University administration to secure the protection of their rights and academic development.

The council called for further incentives for direct and indirect investment by the private sector in the University in order to alleviate the problem of the state having to finance higher education.

KSU said it will be launching an information campaign to inform all students of the prevailing situation.

Following on the same lines, the Malta Christian Democrat Students said it always believed in the right of unions to protect their members by means of industrial action in the scenario of an industrial dispute, adding however that it is disappointed that the students will yet again have to suffer unnecessary and negative consequences.

SDM therefore urged both sides to approach each other in a spirit of goodwill to resolve the issue as quickly as possible in the best interest of all parties involved.

At the end of the day, a proper education is a right not a luxury, SDM noted.

During a rally held on Tuesday, the University of Malta Academic Staff Association and the Malta Union of Teachers ordered all full-time and part-time academic staff at the University and the Junior College to withhold all end-of-semester examination papers.

If the exams have been held or their papers have already been submitted, then the scripts are not to be collected. The new directive came almost a month and a half after 176 lecturers out of 178 rejected the financial package offered to them by the government.

Before that, a one-day strike had been called, aimed at nudging the University management into rethinking the financial package which is the bone of contention between the two parties, that accuse each other of being unrealistic.

The unions had earlier this month instructed their members to work to rule, a directive that remains in force.