Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1522769
2 SURVEY maltatoday | THURSDAY • 19 JUNE 2024 2 NICOLE MEILAK nmeilak@mediatoday.com.mt MATTHEW VELLA mvella@mediatoday.com.mt THE Commissioner for Educa- tion has called upon both sides to the MCAST dispute to en- gage in open and constructive dialogue to resolve a dispute that has led to the withholding of marking exam results. The Office of the Ombuds- man and its Commissioner for Education has expressed grave concern on the situation at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) where the assessment of stu- dents and final examinations have not yet been obtained, due to an industrial dispute with union MUT. The current situation stems from directives, issued by the Malta Union of Teachers, to withhold assessment marks, as well as a refusal to invigilate at examinations and to partici- pate in vivas. This has led to students, in- cluding students in their final year of studies, being left en- tirely in the dark as to their progression and possible fur- ther studies. Some 8,000 stu- dents are believed to have been affected in one way or another. "The Office of the Ombuds- man acknowledges the funda- mental right of educators to engage in industrial action as a means to voice their legitimate grievances and to seek a fair resolution thereto. However, this should be done in a way to cause the least harm to third parties, in this case students, who also have a right to know, without undue or unnecessary delay, the result of their stud- ies throughout the year," the Commissioner for Education said. "Both parties should refrain from using the students' plight to put undue pressure. Fur- thermore, both parties should not display intransigence." A representative of MCAST's final-year nursing graduates told MaltaToday her colleagues were unable to receive final grades, preventing them from starting their careers as nurses. "This situation is particular- ly unfair considering that our peers at the University of Malta can begin working immediate- ly," student Kylie Mercieca told MaltaToday. "Our country is in great need of nurses, and this delay is pre- venting us from contributing to the healthcare system at a crit- ical time. I have also addressed this issue with our principal, but unfortunately, nothing has been resolved." Union dispute leaves thousands waiting for MCAST results as Ombudsman calls for dialogue Some 8,000 students are believed to have been affected in one way or another from an industrial dispute between MCAST and the MUT FOREIGN Affairs Minister Ian Borg told parliament on Tuesday that Mal- ta still intends on recognising a Pal- estinian state "within a proportionate amount of time". "The discussion and work to rec- ognise Palestine is ongoing," he said. "I'm making sure that this parliament will be involved in this process." Last March, the Office of the Prime Minister issued a statement stating that Malta, Spain, Ireland and Slove- nia agreed to recognise Palestine as a state "when the conditions to set up this State allow for this". Since then, Slovenia, Ireland, Spain and Norway took steps to formally recognise the Palestinian state. Malta's lacking progress on the mat- ter has raised questions. The Nation- alist Party has urged the government to recognise a Palestinian state as soon as possible, but the government keeps insisting that it will take the step in due time. In parliament, Borg pointed out that Malta already has a representative in Ramallah, and Palestine has an am- bassador in Malta. "Malta never held back when contributing to the discus- sion on the Palestinian cause." Minister Ian Borg says Malta will recognise Palestinian state, but does not give timeline Foreign minister tells parliament Malta still intends on recognising State of Palestine, despite other countries making more progress on the matter Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg at an OSCE meeting