PN MP with words of encouragement for students who failed MATSEC exams

Jul 14 2022

Taking to social media, PN MP and teacher Justin Schembri wrote a few words of encouragement to all the students receiving their MATSEC results today.

He started off by saying that it is reasonable and understandable that many parents and relatives will be taking to social media to congratulate their children for their academic success.

However, ‘let us remember that there are hundreds of parents that are struck with tears seeing their own kids crying due to not having passed an exam (or more) and thus starting a summer of more studying and work.’

‘Let us be a shoulder to other parents and to those who were our class mates during the scholastic year and encourage them as they face this challenge.’

‘The world isn’t just exams, and many, truly many, of those who are crying today, will also someday make it. And sometimes, they make it big. My heart goes out to all those who are crying today. COURAGE’ he concluded.

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Hamrun set to face Armenian side at almost sold-out Centenary stadium this evening

Hamrun see to face Armenian side at almost sold-out Centenary stadium this evening

Jul 14 2022

Ħamrun Spartans are set to host and face off against Armenia’s Alashkert at the Centenary Stadium this evening, hoping to progress further in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

With a kick-off set for 8pm and a stadium packed and nearly sold out, the Spartans have returned to the field of European football last week after three decades since their last appearance.

Coach Branko Nisevic is very positive about his team’s chances of turning the tide in Hamrun’s favour, despite a first-half goal defeat. Nisevic told Times of Malta that their objective in the first leg was to keep this tie open ahead of the second leg.

‘The 1-0 defeat keeps all options open’ he said, as Hamrun prepare to resume where they finished last week in the second half of the game in Armenia.

Despite registering more attacks than Alashkert in Armenia, the Maltese did not manage to get a single shot on target. The local team’s coach acknowledged that goals need to be scored if the team wishes to progress. This was a focus of their training following the match and he is positive that the playing style being developed will yield such net finds.

Coach Nisevic also revealed that he has all players available except for Gozitan Stefan Cassar, who is sidelined with an injury as well as Moussa Sowe, who joined Spartans during the summer transfer window.

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Photo Source: Hamrun Spartans FB

University lecturers sign objection to easing of Junior College entry requirements

Jul 14 2022

Lecturers from the University of Malta’s Departments of Mathematics, English and Maltese expressed their objection at the entry requirement lowering for Junior College which was announced earlier this year.

A meeting was held by the University Senate on January 20th, 2022, and it was decreed that students in possession of six passes at SEC level, with at least one pass in one of the core subjects will be allowed to enrol at JC on a probationary basis.

Such students will need to achieve a pass mark in the remaining core subject/s in order for them to be able to move on to University.

This would mean that, as from this academic year, only one pass is needed as opposed to a pass mark in all three subjects.

The delegate said in a public statement that ‘basic knowledge of and proficiency in the two official languages and in mathematics is essential for students to pursue their post-secondary and tertiary education with profit.’

“For the sake of students themselves, we believe that any changes made should not lessen the importance of these competencies.”

“While we acknowledge that the Junior College and the University of Malta should assist all the students who have difficulties in learning languages, Mathematics, and any other subject, we believe that such a crucial decision, which is bound to have serious effects on the students’ knowledge of Maltese, English, and Mathematics, should be taken after wide and serious consultation with experts in the various subjects.”

Read public statement here.

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PN’s broadcasting rights breached by national broadcaster says judge

Jul 14 2022

A judge has stated that Malta’s public broadcaster PBS breached the Constitution by failing to report impartially in regards to a matter of political controversy.

The judge slammed the ‘winner takes all’ mentality which was allegedly displayed by both parties during the election. Her found that the Broadcasting Authority failed to act in a timely manner in a constitutional case filed by the PN before the general election.

The case had been filed by the Nationalist Party against the Broadcasting Authority, Public Broadcasting Services Ltd, Minister Carmelo Abela and State Advocate earlier in 2022.

The Opposition had complained of a bias favouring the government in the programming, which, it said, translated into little to no coverage of statements made by Bernard Grech, the PN leader.

It was also found that the PBS also defied an order by the BA, in breach of the Constitution and the law regulating broadcast media. PBS was found guilty by the BA three months later after a second complaint was filed by the political party, leading to a fine being imposed.

Mr Justice Grazio Mercieca said early on Thursday morning that pluralism is an important aspect in the right to freedom to expression. The judge pointed to the State Broadcaster, PBS, having the largest audience of all media outlets in Malta.

The defendant’s argument which insisted that the issue of balance in broadcasting was ‘separate and distinct from the fundamental rights of the plaintiff, which remained unaffected by balance or imbalance in broadcasting’ was not supported by the judge.

The court pointed out to this ‘game of cat and mouse’ that, Maltese politics, the winner takes all. The winner uses the incumbency to its limits and the loser calls it shameful. Then, when the page is turned, government commits the same abuses. ‘This game of cat and mouse must be eradicated once and for all’ said the statement.

The court concluded that both the authority and PBS failed to ensure impartiality and discriminated against the PN. Both were ordered to pay €1,500 by way of non-pecuniary damages. It also ordered that an adequate and faithful summary of the judgment be given prominence during the 8pm TVM news bulletin, being the slot which attracts the largest audience.

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