Both the government and the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) have released statements over the dispute regarding the collective agreement for MCAST lecturers.
At a press briefing, Permanent Secretary Joyce Cassar outlined the government’s position, revealing that while MCAST management had accepted several MUT requests—such as shortening the academic year, reducing lecturers’ teaching workload, and providing additional compensation for classes after 3:30 pm—some demands were deemed unacceptable.
Among these were a €400 allowance for correcting resit exams, additional vacation days, and a proposal to double remote working hours to 16 hours per week.
Cassar argued that the €400 resit allowance could lead to suspicions about lecturers failing students deliberately and criticised a demand to promote lecturers to senior positions without requiring a doctorate, saying it could harm MCAST’s academic standards.
The MUT rejected Cassar’s statements, calling them misleading and accusing the government of undermining education quality at MCAST.
The union argued that reductions in teaching hours per unit had drastically impacted experiential learning, with some syllabi now taught in half the originally allocated time.
It also criticised the lack of resources and staff replacements, which it claims have left MCAST stretched thin.
Ongoing industrial actions by lecturers—including withholding assessment marks, halting extracurricular activities, and limiting communication with students—have disrupted students’ learning. Cassar urged lecturers to reconsider their actions, emphasising the impact on students and parents.
The MUT insisted it remained open to dialogue, rejecting what it called the government’s “confrontational approach.” The union reiterated its commitment to quality education and called for renewed negotiations, emphasising the need for resources and support to improve teaching conditions at MCAST.
With negotiations entering their second year and no resolution in sight, the standoff has left students, parents, and educators in a state of uncertainty.
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