Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1024340
27 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 SEPTEMBER 2018 Michael Briguglio is a local councillor (PN) and a candidate for the European elections Maghtab and beyond Evarist Bartolo Evarist Bartolo is minister for education and employment Michael Briguglio WHATEVER the cause of the recent Maghtab fire, Government should have issued an immediate bulletin to explain details, risks and required action based on knowledge in hand. Like last year, when a similar inci- dent took place at the Waste Separation facility at Mar- saskala, it did not. On the other hand, the Civil Protection Department was efficient and timely in carrying out its duties, and we should all be grateful to its workers. Environment Minister Josè Herrera did address a press conference some hours after news of the fire broke out, but I do not think that he put people's mind at rest on Malta's waste management operations. We already are European laggards on waste recycling and quality of air: civic-minded people need to know whether their partici- pation in recycling schemes is fruitful or not. People also need to know the state of play of the Waste Separation Plant at Marsas- kala and the results of the internal inquiry which are in the possession of Minister Herrera. Tax-payers should be informed about the duties assigned to complement around 80 workers who were employed by Wasteserv after the Marsaskala fires and before the 2017 general elec- tions, and we also should be informed whether all experts and professionals at Was- teserv are being employed to the best of their abilities. Another question which people are asking is whether Malta's current economic model based on the importa- tion of thousands of work- ers is based on sustainable planning, given the countries infrastructural challenges. Is Malta equipped to cater for a hefty increase in waste, for example? As regards the Maghtab fire, can the Ministry for the Environment provide scientific evidence that the waste in question was re- ally refuse-derived fuel and whether its storage was in accordance with EU stand- ards? Minister Herrera said that Malta would have been spared from such a fire had an incinerator been in place. This merits another question: Can Government be trusted to manage an incinerator given the mis- management at Marsaskala and Maghtab? Can Government also explain why it is consistently ignoring the concerns of lo- cal councils near Maghtab, and can it publish minutes of meetings that led to its deci- sion to resort to incineration for 40 per cent of Malta's waste? Incidentally, it is interesting that Government announced the incineration policy after the 2017 general election and declared that it will be ready in 2023, hence after, and not before the next general election. It is a pity that following Malta's EU accession in 2004 the country was generally improving its waste man- agement policies through recycling and engineered landfilling, although it had new challenges such as the influx of plastic bottles. A green leaders' scheme was introduced in the public sector to encourage better practices. What we now have in place is a top-down system that lacks transparency, that ig- nores local councils and that contradicts its own rhetoric in the circular economy. Suf- fice to say that construction waste – which accounts for around 85 per cent of waste in the islands – is not re- used, and business waste is largely unaccounted for. Should government want to combat scepticism on its waste management policies, it should be more forth- coming in the provision of information and it should consider local councils and civil society as partners rather than adversaries. Many people are willing to contribute to protect Malta's environment. They deserve efficient and transparent management systems. AS of the next academic year, MCAST students pur- suing an MQF Level 6 course in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering will now be able to sit for an interview to obtain an engi- neering warrant. This issue, which has been pending since 2009, is now possible since we are ensuring that engineering standards are maintained. This will also eliminate the snobbery that exists between traditional students and MCAST students. Further- more, students can now check beforehand that the course being followed leads to a warrant, something which already applies to Nursing courses. MCAST will be offer- ing two programmes to its students: one to pursue their studies at MQF Level 5 and another at MQF Level 6. The latter, a B. Eng four-year programme, meets the re- quirements for graduates to sit for an interview to obtain a warrant in engineering. German accrediting body ASIIN conducted an audit on the MCAST programmes and presented a number of recommendations which were taken on board by the college. Once the changes were implemented success- fully, the Engineering Board proceeded to approve the awarding of the engineering warrant to MCAST gradu- ates in mechanical engineer- ing and electrical engineer- ing at MQF Level 6. Former MCAST students who pursued their studies in engineering using the previous framework are able to undertake a pre- warrant qualification as of the second semester of the next academic year, as part of MCAST's commitment of providing continuous professional development of its students. The changes made were not in the learning outcomes of the programme(s) but on the vocational elements of the studies. The courses at MCAST are professional qualifications spread over seven levels of the Malta Qualifications Framework which enhance higher-order thinking skills in students whilst having the right level of academic background. MCAST courses are regu- larly updated to reflect the latest best practices and technologies required for students to achieve a more successful employment career. In the next acadamic year (2018/2019) MCAST will be offering 195 full-time vocational education and training courses in six insi- titutes and three interlinked colleges. The real difference is not between vocational and aca- demic courses, but between good and bad courses. We will ensure that our courses will help students obtain the skills necessary for the real world. Church, State together The Church in Gozo has recently taken a small but significant step by announc- ing an initiative to open two hostels for Gozitan students in Malta. The Gozitan Diocese, in conjunction with two religious orders, the Au- gustinian Brothers and the Sisters of St Joseph, will help Gozitan students studying in Malta by providing ac- commodation in G'Mangia and in Gżira. The Curia will be footing the bill for the expenses related to these hostels and I thank them for setting this example. Last year the Gozo Minis- ter, Justyne Caruana also said that its Ministry was studying plans for a hostel in Malta for Gozitans studying in Malta, and plans are at an advanced stage. I believe that the Govern- ment and Church should sit together and discuss how to work together to help provide housing for the most vulnerable and those at the bottom end of the income ladder. Warrants for MCAST graduates