From Ms P. Camilleri

I refer to the article entitled “Maltese Miracles” (TMIS, 12 November) and to other previous articles that have appeared in your newspaper. These articles have commented and criticised various aspects of the University of Malta, from admission procedures to the necessity of having the Maltese Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) as a compulsory requirement for Maltese citizens to enter university.

We obviously acknowledge and recognise everyone’s constitutional right to free speech and to freedom of expression within the limits and parameters of the law and, doubtless, there are things that the university can learn by listening to what is being said both on and outside campus. However, when the integrity of this institution is attacked unjustly then it is time for the university authorities to speak up and rebut unfounded allegations.

For those who are, perhaps, not familiar with University of Malta structures, I shall briefly outline these so as to dispel the idea that decisions are made in a vacuum and by individuals or even by the Rector himself on his own. Every faculty and institute has a Board that discusses all aspects of that entity’s modus operandi. Decisions concerning academic matters are taken and agreed upon by the staff of that particular faculty, institute or centre and are then passed on to the Senate. The Senate is made up of 33 people who represent the faculties, institutes and centres, as well as the student body and other internal and external entities. All academic decisions are taken by the Senate. Decisions of a more general nature are taken to Council, which is made up of 26 members representing not only the university but also entities outside campus. Details of both Senate and Council can be found on the university homepage (www.um.edu.mt). Decisions are taken in a collegiate manner with the varied representation creating the checks and balances needed to ensure best practice, thus manifesting and reflecting a transparent system. The MATSEC Examinations Board works in the same way in that its decisions are also subject to scrutiny by the Senate.

Maltese, at SEC level, as a pre-requisite for entry to the University of Malta, has been in place for many years. It was felt that a basic knowledge of the literature and grammar of our national language should be the minimum expected of all Maltese students. Children who have one parent who is not Maltese and who, consequently do not speak Maltese at home, may seem to be disadvantaged. However, in the university’s experience, even if such children do not speak Maltese very well, they are quite capable of reaching a standard that is sufficient to obtain a pass at SEC level. Many such children regularly do so. The university has no intention of changing this requirement in the foreseeable future.

The allegation that the Maltese and English MATSEC A-level requirements for entry into the LL.D. course were removed to favour the child of a particular person, is entirely unjust and unfounded. For some years, Maltese and English, at C grade or better, were a MATSEC A-level requirement for entry to the LL.D course. After a decision taken, first by the Faculty of Laws Board and then by the Senate, it was decided to remove this requirement. This was aimed at encouraging students whose talents lay in other fields, such as the Sciences, to read for the Law degree. As a result of an ever-changing, dynamic society, the legal world has changed enormously in the last 15 to 20 years and now includes within its remit financial, fiscal, medico-legal, Information Technology and scientific areas of specialisation. Senate agreed with the Board of the Faculty Laws on this issue. After a short time however, it was decided to reintroduce Maltese and English at MATSEC Intermediate level at C grade or better, to ensure that the students’ standard in both languages was sufficient for them to follow the LL.D. course. The university categorically denies having done this to accommodate someone in particular.

Perhaps most serious of all is the insinuation that the MATSEC Examinations Board “fixed” the marks of a student’s examination paper so as to help him/her gain entry to a course, to the detriment of the student’s peers who did not make the grade. In the name of the MATSEC Examinations Board, the university again categorically denies having taken such action. Sometimes, unfortunately, mistakes are made in calculating marks. This is quite a complicated procedure that entails the use of checking mechanisms in order to ensure that mistakes do not happen. However, even those who double-check are human, and thus fallible. When such errors are discovered, it is only fair that the university takes responsibility for the error, corrects the mistake and grants a remedy if prejudice or harm ensued. Sometimes, this means that a student who had been told that s/he was not eligible for entry, finds s/he is able to start a course. The university appreciates that to the outsider it may appear that things have been “fixed”. However, the university authorities wish to assure the general public that it would never even contemplate taking such action. All the MATSEC examiners take their job very seriously. If anyone feels that they require an explanation regarding a particular case, they are most welcome to come and discuss it with the university authorities.

The university is willing to listen to and take into account everyone’s constructive criticism and, when appropriate, to take remedial action if it has erred, but it cannot tolerate unfounded allegations which damage, or rather attempt to damage, the institutional reputation it has acquired after decades of genuine commitment.

Patricia Camilleri

Principal Communications Officer

University of Malta

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