The newly set up Malta Association of Private Training Providers (MAPTP) will be closely monitoring the awarding of training tenders. The association is currently looking into a number of complaints it has received on the awarding of tenders over the past few months and will meet with the entities concerned accordingly.

The MAPTP would like to make sure that members sitting on awards committees do not have any conflicts of interest in order to ensure transparency and accountability. It also emphasises that price should not be the deciding factor since in training, quality is extremely important and this comes at a cost.

Rosanne Galea, president of MAPTP said: “All persons involved in tendering processes, whether these involve EU funds or otherwise, should know the rules regarding tendering procedures. The systems must be transparent and the results should include the reasons why the tenders were or were not successful. It is evident that most of our members are not happy with the way tenders are being handled in Malta and it is our intention to make full use of all channels available to us locally and overseas to make sure that our rights as training providers are not tampered with.

“It is our intention to forward to the authorities cases that we feel should be investigated by an independent body and our members will now have a procedure for reporting such cases directly to the council for further action.”