Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/537300
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 5 JULY 2015 Opinion 20 Director @ 18 It goes without saying – being a company director requires experience. Being experienced at 18 years of age is possible, but experienced enough to manage a company is somewhat impossible. The 18-year-old selected for his "skills and experience", as Minister Chris Cardona chose to put it, is yet another appointment gone wrong in the Malta Taghna Lkoll legislature. It's interesting though how the developments evolved in this case. This, and similar cases, come to light, either through a newspaper story, an online blog or revealed by the Opposition through a parliamentary question. It seems that no one bothers to shoulder responsibility. In a damage-control move, Minister Chris Cardona later stated that the boy would not be paid and would provide the service voluntarily. We all know this wasn't meant to be the case when the boy was assigned. It later transpired that the 18- year-old director subsequently resigned from the position. It is clear that the case lacks meritocracy, and had the boy not been a close relative of the Chief of Staff of Minister Cardona, he would have never been called in for an interview, let alone be selected. Boarded out in four days Another case of sleaze was revealed by the Opposition through a parliamentary question a few days ago, this time involving a police officer who happens to be the son of former Police Commissioner Ray Zammit. Daniel Zammit was successfully boarded out in just four days. I have never met a case of an individual being boarded out so expeditiously in a matter of four days. Let's go through the process of what is required for a person to be boarded out. The individual must submit a request to the department concerned. I would understand that the employees in the department are busy handling other previous requests, and place Zammit's request in the queue together with others. These are vetted for the seriousness of the situation and the individual is given an interview with the board, composed of members whose duty it is to determine whether Zammit's request is legitimate and whether his condition is such that he merits being boarded out. The board would have to go through the medical records presented, ask the applicant pertinent questions and on this base conclude whether the request is to be upheld. Zammit's request is upheld and a letter is sent to him by the board secretary to inform him that his request had been approved. Does anyone really believe that this process may be accomplished in four days? During my time in politics so far, I have come across cases of individuals of every kind – those who prima facie deserve being boarded out, and others who simply try their luck given a minor condition. I recall however an individual who had been so sick that he couldn't even move, and it took him months to obtain clearance to be boarded out. I will not pretend to have the credentials to judge Zammit's request, because I don't, and it might have been a legitimate one – but getting boarded out in four days simply stinks of sleaze and is unjust. Boarded in again for €60,000 The story doesn't end there, however. Zammit is swiftly taken on by Enemalta for the astronomical salary of €60,000 a year, for a job with similar duties as his previous employment. It is all very obvious why Zammit has been carefully assisted to craft a plan which would award him the rights of a full pension (on par with police officers after 25 years of service and duty), and enjoy a salary equal to that of MEPA's CEO. What about responsibility? What strikes me is the fact that nobody shoulders any kind of responsibility. Up until now, it's the 18 year-old-boy and Mr Zammit who have carried some responsibility. But what about the individuals who have been instrumental in making such happenings? Who will shoulder responsibility for having selected an 18-year- old to manage a government agency? Who will shoulder responsibility for awarding a boarded out policeman a job in a government-led corporation? Who will shoulder responsibility for providing Zammit such a handsome salary? Once again, the true colours of Labour are out for everyone to see. To hell with socialism, 'let's celebrate and rejoice for having spent 25 years in Opposition' – this must be their motto. The Malta Labour Party is no longer a socialist party. Its members have become Champagne Socialists. If you're in their inner circle, you stand to benefit, and benefit big time. The Opposition will continue to show the true colours, what Labour truly stands for. Pity their slogans have been trashed, they could have made Malta a better and fairer place. Ryan Callus is Opposition spokesperson for environment, lands, planning and infrastructure A university is not just another business. In the past we have had a number of bogus universities granting fake degrees locally. During that time, as shadow minister for education, I always denounced such practices. We will not allow such bogus institutions to operate locally. Neither will any investor be allowed to buy a university licence. Programmes, faculty and governance have to be scrutinised for quality by the National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE). With the help of EU funds, particularly the European Social Fund, we have completed a project that ensures that the improvements made in the quality of our education are subject to the necessary procedures and mechanisms for the correct auditing of Further and Higher Education entities in Malta by the NCFHE. The ultimate aim of this project was to foster a national culture of quality in further and higher education provision. The highlights of this project were three pilot internal and external audits within the University of Malta, the Institute for Tourism Studies and the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology. It is very important to safeguard the quality of further and higher education within the economic, social and cultural context. Quality assurance contributes in promoting Malta as an international provider of educational excellence. Providing quality education is not only about course content. The programmes are obviously important but so is the faculty governance and lecturing delivery. We need to put our heart and soul in teaching and our commitment must show the passion and quality in the education that we wish to give our students. We need to accredit properly our formal and informal education and also work-based learning. One of the main deliverables of this project was the Manual of Procedures for external quality audits. The National Quality Assurance Framework provides guidance to educational institutions that embark on the processes of Quality Assurance in order to enhance the learning outcomes provided through their educational programmes. The NCHFE provides due diligence leading to membership in higher education quality assurance agencies in Europe. This was not just a process of ticking the appropriate boxes in a standard form; it was and will remain a rigorous process that will bring Malta in line with international and wider, more encompassing educational systems. As a centre of quality in education, Malta stands to benefit substantially in an economic context. The NCFHE has upgraded quality assurance practices and these will continue to improve Malta's position on international grounds, thereby attracting more students to our shores. The National Commission for Further and Higher Education will foster enhanced quality cultures among further and higher education institutions. We want universities in Malta and Gozo to empower people for more jobs and a better quality of life. The government is adamant that the quality and standards of our education are not lowered and through the NCFHE, we will make quality visible. Such measures will improve education and skills and will enhance the quality of the educational experience of our students. This will increase students' participation in their learning process. This government is committed to continue promoting a pluralistic approach with further and higher education institutions, thus strengthening Malta's international standing. Evarist Bartolo is Minister of Education and Employment Of champagne socialists, and their accolades Education: Quality does matter Ryan Callus Evarist Bartolo This was not just a process of ticking the appropriate boxes in a standard form; it was and will remain a rigorous process that will bring Malta in line with international and wider, more encompassing educational systems