MUT highlights university's dire financial straits

Some weeks ago the water supply at the University of Malta was suspended after bills were not paid on time, John Bencini, president of the Malta Union of Teachers said yesterday.

The situation was eventually resolved and the supply restored, but the incident reflected the difficult financial situation of the university, Mr Bencini said.

The situation was a result of lack of money, he said, adding this was having a negative effect on the services provided by the university.

Addressing a news conference at the Teachers' Institute in Valletta to launch this Thursday's MUT biennial general conference, Mr Bencini said that owing to lack of funds the university was being prevented from providing day-to-day essentials expected from such an institution. Computers and printers were not being repaired or serviced and research was also being hit.

And during its last meeting the university council had decided to postpone the announcement of the new courses scheduled for October and February 2005.

He said the MUT had twice discussed the situation with the university rector and it would again be the topic for discussion at a meeting which MUT officials would be having with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi tomorrow.

Mr Bencini also expressed concern at the high percentage of unemployed graduate teachers. He said 40 per cent of teachers who graduated last year were still without a job. The situation would become more complex in four years' time when 1,000 teachers would graduate.

He asked whether the government would be making good for the expense of having European students at the university now that Malta had become an EU member. The university was not in a position to impose fees or restrict entry.

Another issue facing the MUT was the sectoral agreements mentioned in the collective agreement for the public service signed some years ago. The agreements were meant to have been concluded by June 2003, but although the MUT had submitted its proposals, nothing had been concluded.

The new MUT council, to be elected during the general conference, would deal with the issue seriously, Mr Bencini said.

The biennial general conference will be held at the New Dolmen Hotel, Qawra on the theme "Towards a radical change in our education system - in what direction?".

A resolution to be presented to the conference will insist on consultation and negotiations over changes resulting from the reform in the educational sector and on the possible consequences of such changes.

The motion calls on the government to hear the views of teachers since the decisions to be taken could affect the conditions of work of present and future teachers as well as the educational system.

The conference has no fewer than 34 motions ranging from one calling on the Education Division to review its policy that prohibits a married couple from teaching at the same school, to another insisting for support staff in schools.