Which course of studies?

The development of MCAST as an option for one to continue tertiary education is a feather in the hat of the Ministry of Education. Which course?, which profession? - these are common questions asked by those finishing secondary education and planning to proceed to tertiary studies.

The enormous demand for such courses as physiotherapy and dentistry is a reason why these are the only two university courses which still boast of retaining a defiant numerus clausus. But is it true that these two professions are so oversubscribed? Is the registration for work by these two professions very high? Or is it zero? Or do we have to wait for days on end to get an appointment to obtain their services?

The university authorities should consider the country's needs when limiting the number of students in joining its courses. There are other professional courses which are flooded and carry no numerus clausus, such as medicine, education, law and pharmacy.

Those running these courses are obliged to do their job. Full stop. They cannot and should not opt for a numerus clausus for whatever justified reason they may conceive. Having said this, the university must think of ways (perhaps even using some lateral thinking) to direct students to areas where the country really needs them. Can the university carry out studies to investigate where its graduates will be needed in five years time?

One area which received the media's attention in recent weeks concerned the M.Psych. degree. Here, the numerus clausus is zero, because the course will not start at all. We have a case where the university finds it convenient to have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, which only produces frustrated quasi-psychologists and allows the psychology department to stop just one step from catering for the country's real needs.

The country is deprived of psychologists, who are so badly needed as admitted by one and all. It is said that it is next to impossible to get a proper psychology service from the government services and one has to pay through the nose to get the services of a private psychologist. The same may be said about the profession of veterinary surgeons. One is sure that a veterinary school in Malta will not only be fully subscribed to, but will also complement the excellent and vast options provided by our university.