Labour MP Owen Bonnici this morning welcomed the government's decision to offer University exchange programmes to students who were affected by the suspension of EU funds for education funds but said such exchanges would not be as good as the EU programmes.

Speaking in parliament during the debate on a no-confidence motion in Education Minister Dolores Cristina, Dr Bonnici said the students had nothing to do with the government's muddle, caused by incompetence.

It was a disgrace, he said, that because of the government's incompetence, taxpayers would have to fork out some €500,000, when previously the programmes would not have cost the country a cent.

Following the suspension of funds, the government had first said it would try a short cut to still access the funds, Dr Bonnci said. Then Richard Cachia Caruana, Malta's Permanent Representative to the EU, cautioned that that could not be done. The European Commission also took a dim view and the government finally opted for the direct exchanges between the Universities.

It was clear, Dr Bonnici said, that the government was quick to assume the burdens of EU membership, but was unable to make the best of its advantages.

Political responsibility needed to be shouldered for this muddle. It was not enough that an inquiry had been held and three officials had resigned. There had to be political accountability if credibility was to be restored. That Mrs Cristina claimed that she had not known what was going on was not good enough, indeed, it made a bad situation worse.

Clearly, Education Minister Dolores Cristina had to go. Her position was untenable, Dr Bonnici said.