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4 News maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 29 JANUARY 2014 Minister hopes for wide consultation on Education Act JURGEN BALZAN EDUCATION Minister Evarist Bartolo yesterday launched a consultation process over the new comprehensive education act, expressing his hope that the process will draw wide participation from all stakeholders. Bartolo explained that the changes in the law depended on the success of the two-month consultation process. "I must admit that we were disappointed by the lack of reaction to the white paper on childcare with the bulk of the feedback received focusing on the administrative aspect, rather than the educational aspect. "Hopefully, we will have greater participation in the consultation over the education act," Bartolo said. The main aim of the process, Bartolo said, was that of "underlining the shortcomings in our educational system." He also said that a number of education institutions such as The University of Malta and MCAST had expressed their desire to have separate laws regulating the institutions separately. Asked whether he favoured such moves, Bartolo said: "It's not a bad idea," adding that the Education Act currently covers all levels of schooling. He said that the University of Malta had already forwarded a detailed proposal which was being reviewed. "The system comprises students performing at different levels, including a number of students who exit the system without the necessary skills. We have one of the highest levels of early school leavers in the EU and we must address it by starting at the primary level," he said. Moreover, Bartolo underlined excessive bureaucracy as one of the shortcomings which were pinpointed in a recent study conducted by the Malta Union of Teachers. "Relations between the ministry and schools must improve and the distance between the two must be shortened to ensure further democratisation," Bartolo said, adding that MUT will be consulted on this and other shortcomings identified in its study. The new law is also expected to address the rights and obligations of parents and the participation of stu- Education MInister Evarist Bartolo (centre) dents. Bartolo said that one of the ideas being floated is the introduction of compulsory student councils in all schools. The minister also stressed the importance of linking education Health Ministry comes clean on shortage of cancer meds Supplier of Zoledronic Acid is late in delivery and he has been hastened by the Health Department, government says THE Health Ministry yesterday said that Zoledronic Acid, a medicine used by patients undergoing chemotherapy, has been out of stock just after the first week of January 2014. Opposition MP Claudio Grech this week pointed out that if the supplier failed to deliver on time the ministry should find alternative ways to make the medicine available. The ministry said that the Central Procurement and Supplies Unit (CPSU) has a pending order with the current supplier that had to be delivered on 23 of November 2013, with a subsequent order for a half year stock. "The supplier is late in delivery and he has been hastened regularly by the department," the statement said. On 22 January the department was informed by the supplier, (Drug Sales Ltd.) that the product was released internationally and that they were waiting for the exact delivery date with an indication that it may be round the 1st or 2nd week of February 2014. Moreover, on 24 January the department was informed that a part order of 500 vials (approximately 3 months stock) will be sent to Malta. The release on the remaining part order of 600 vials is being anticipated to be in March 2014 however the supplier has promised that they are trying to hasten the process. There are 188 approved patients on this medicine and the depart- ment has suggested the use of an alternative, Sodium Pamidronate injections, which is available on the government formulary list, and which have been previously used for the same indication. Sodium Pamidronate is a Bisphosphonate just like Zoledronic Acid and both are indicated for the treatment of documented bone metastasis in patients with solid tumours and bone lesions associated with multiple myeloma. The ministry added that some clinicians have administered the alternative and other clinicians preferred skipping a dose to wait for the stock being delivered in February. "The department is informed that none of the patients were asked to buy it. In fact the government also tried to do a local market research and less than 8 vials were available for use, an amount which would have not solved the issue for the 188 patients when the government's mission and vision is equity all throughout." PN candidate: 'Ukraine is Europe' THE European Economic and Social Committee held a special plenary session to debate the ongoing events in the Ukraine and call for a concrete plan of action. During the plenary sitting, Nationalist candidate for MEP Stefano Mallia called on the European Union to act immediately to "help the people of Ukraine to come out of this very dark period". In his intervention, Mallia said that the crisis in Ukraine should not be seen as a crisis on Europe's doorstep but as a crisis "within our house" and that the EU must give the situation its full attention. Mallia also addressed two representatives of the Ukraine resistance – Ruslana, former winner of the 2004 Eurovision and now the face of the Maidan protests, as well as Oleksiy Honcharuk, a spokesperson for civil society and him- self CEO of a private company in Ukraine – who were both present for the special plenary debate on Ukraine. Mallia called on them to remain united in their battle for democracy. "It is only by being united that you will emerge victorious from this struggle." Mallia said it was the responsibility of Europe to act, "because Ukraine is Europe". to employability "without ignoring other aspects such as encouraging students to be critical and become active citizens". While calling for the participation of all stakeholders, including un- ions and church and independent schools, Bartolo hinted that the education directorate which provides the education services could have its regulatory role transferred to the national commission for education. MDA president is 'Labour volunteer' Gino Cauchi PAGE 1 Asked whether Chetcuti had donated money to Labour in the recent past, Cauchi said he didn't exclude that Chetcuti might have helped during fundraising events "but not the thousands one might think". Labour's CEO denied that Chetcuti had collected donations from contractors on behalf of the Labour Party. The party has pledged to enact party financing laws that will keep tabs on party donors. Confronted with the same question as to whether he was collecting monies from contractors or others he was meeting, Chetcuti said: "I help whoever I want in any way I like." He insisted that he occupied no specific role or office at the Labour HQ, adding that the way he chose to spend his free time was his own business. "What I do in my free time is no one's business... and what I do is not illegal or illicit," he said, adding that the matter had nothing to do with his role in the MDA. Asked about his role within the party, Chetcuti said what he did was "private". "I am not employed by the gov- ernment and as far as I know I'm not paid for sitting on the building regulations board." Chetcuti said he "sometimes attended meetings at Labour but have nothing to do with contractors or the association". He said he was not obliged to say who was present for the meetings or what was discussed during the meetings. "I am sometimes asked to attend meetings to give advice, like I am asked to give advice in the private sector." Chetcuti is a member on the government's Building Regulation Board. Chetcuti's relationship with Labour goes back years: an SMS to then Opposition leader Joseph Muscat which he erroneously texted to Vince Farrugia, was the cause of the altercation inside the GRTU offices that later led to attempted murder charges against Chetcuti. The charges were later downgraded to GBH, but Chetcuti was only found guilty of causing Farrugia slight injuries and harassing him. He was sentenced him to one month's imprisonment, suspended for one year.

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