Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/404410
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2014 3 News PN NATIONAL CONVENTION TIM DIACONO PROBLEMS in the education sys- tem kept being brought up during the second session of the Nationalist Party's first ever national convention that they organised to listen to the ideas of people outside the party. "Education is the basis of every- thing, and thanks to the PN tertiary education has become a right where it once was a luxury," 6pm founder and CEO Ivan Bartolo said. "Yet our university needs to start adapting to the realities of today." Yesterday's session was an early sneak-peak at what the PN's updated policies could look like. Bartolo him- self has been tasked with coming up with new policies for the PN related to the economy and employment. One of the 'realities of today' that he pointed out in Saturday's conven- tion was the recent decline in shop sales, something that the PN has equated with the government's lack of an economic vision. "Let's get real, the problems faced by retailers have got nothing to do with the change in government," Bartolo said. "Rather, it's because of the rise in online shopping." He said that a solution lies in the education system preparing students for new niches of work, such as sys- tems analysis, project management and business analysis. PN MEP candidate Helga Ellul said that University graduates are faced with problems when searching for a job, as employers seek people with work experience. "Why doesn't the university start offering some more hands-on, prac- tical credits for all its courses in col- laboration with private industries like MCAST does?" Ellul asked. Another of the PN's MEP candi- dates, Jonathan Shaw, criticised the education system for focusing too heavily on grades. "Is the rat race for grades that be- gins at such a young age creating the right leaders of the future?" Shaw questioned. "The unemployment figures may be good but we must start looking at the quality of work. Employers are complaining that they simply can't find employees with the right specialised skills." Economist Marisa Xuereb, on the other hand, challenged the long summer holidays in Malta's educa- tion system. "Such long summer holidays mean that our children's education is large- ly dependent on their parents' com- mitment to educate them," Xuereb said. "It also means that it is hard for both parents to maintain full-time jobs. We need a radical change in the way schools operate." The 'common good' at the centre of policies Meanwhile, MaltaToday's own journalist, James Debono, advised the PN to put 'the common good' at the centre of their policies. "Politicians need to provide a clear definition of the 'common good' and design policies around it," Debono said. "The environment is an impor- tant part of the common good, but if we want to protect it then we must pay for it." "For example, the Arriva public transport experience failed because the previous administration tried to save money, resulting in long routes and few buses." He also criticised political parties for playing the role of 'cheer leaders' and warned that Malta could soon be facing a rise of 'anti-politics' that could lead to both Beppe Grillo-style populism and apathy. "The attitude of 'don't criticise us because you did worse' that we see everyday in Parliament won't help combat anti-politics," Debono said. Debono, as well as Sliema coun- cillor Michael Briguglio, supported the PN's calls to introduce a second- pillar pension, an obligatory pension partly financed by employers, before a voluntary private pension scheme. "Introducing third pillar pensions without a second pillar pension sys- tem in place will increase the social division between those people who can afford voluntary pensions and those who can't," Briguglio said. He also suggested that Malta im- prove its social welfare system. "We have a hybrid welfare sys- tem that has worked well during the global economic crisis, but we must keep improving it," Briguglio said, warning that poverty is on the rise. "Policies must reflect the needs of citizens, not of consumers. The government is using a dangerous discourse that blames social depend- ency on the poor people." Lawyer Joe Ellis said that politicians are responsible for the lack of finan- cial investment in Gozo in sectors such as i-gaming. He also called for a shake up of the Gozo Minister job. "The Gozo Minister should pro- mote economic development in Gozo while maintaining the island's cultural heritage," Ellis said. "Issues related to employment, education and health of the Gozitan people should be in the hands of the Gozo Ministry, not of the respective minis- tries in Malta." PN must become a 'catalyst for social change' Jacqueline Azzopardi, vice-dean of the University's Faculty of Social Well-Being, warned the PN that it must see last year's election thrash- ing as a wake-up call to modernise their social policies and become a "catalyst for social change". "Our youths are free spirits who live on the world wide web, exposed to a multicultural world," Azzopardi said. "The PN can't wait around for the church to accept females as priests or to accept gay people; the church has the right to its own doctrines but they're doctrines that have become separated from modern values." Meanwhile, transgender business- man Alex Mangion told the PN con- vention that the opposition's deci- sion to abstain from voting on the Civil Unions Bill was a mistake, one that it should not repeat when voting on the Gender Identity Bill. "I find myself thinking twice before going to a bank, because I'd have to present my ID card that is still regis- tered under a female identity," Man- gion said. "Similar problems arise when I want to go on holiday or into a club in Paceville." A raucous round of applause fol- lowed Mangion's emotional speech. Ghanaian-Maltese law student Naomi Bugre told the PN conven- tion that they need to place cultural integration at the forefront of their policies. "Political parties have a strong in- fluence in Malta. If cultural integra- tion is at the forefront of the policies they could help change mentalities," the student said. "Multiculturalism should be about how different peo- ple can live together in peace while dealing with the challenges that arise from diversity." Also, Amy Camilleri Zahra, man- ager at the National Commission for People with a Disability, urged the PN to fully observe the needs of peo- ple with a disability. "The role of people with a disability in Malta has improved dramatically over the past few decades but a lot of work still needs to be done," she said. "They need to have fully equal rights, such as the right to equal access to justice, and the right to full partici- pation in politics through secret vot- ing." The convention will come to a close today with a speech by PN leader Si- mon Busuttil. tdiacono@mediatoday.com.mt Nationalists open up to reality outside the party Michael Briguglio – third pillar without second pillar pensions will worsen social division PN leader Simon Busuttil and deputy leader Mario de Marco listen attentively Helga Ellul: The university should offer more hands-on practical credits in its courses