The Cabinet of Ministers yesterday approved a campaign, estimated to cost around Lm1 million, to attract more lecturers in Information and Communication Technology to teach at the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology, in order to cope with the expected increase in demand for the ICT courses during the upcoming academic year.

Speaking during a press conference, Investments Minister Austin Gatt and Education Minister Louis Galea gave details about the package of measures to enable a longer intake of ICT students at MCAST for the 2007/2008 academic year.

Dr Galea said the campaign, for which the Cabinet approved a budget of Lm1 million, is intended to attract more ICT lecturers providing them with incentives to teach the students who will be applying for the ICT courses. Asked by The Malta Independent, Minister Gatt said the target is to employ seven lecturers to add to the five employed last year.

Moreover, the campaign is aimed to strengthen the collaboration with private teaching institutions so that students can be taught there while the students receive the same stipends as those at MCAST.

Dr Gatt explained that MCAST is proving so successful that the number of students attending courses at the college has increased considerably. The number of applicants for ICT courses increased from 390 in 2001 to 961 last year. The number of graduates increased from 82 to 334. Last year, MCAST received 339 applications from MCAST students who wanted to continue their studies at a higher level and 622 new applicants.

Dr Gatt said that the present human resources available to the college could not cope with this increase in volume and not all the people who applied to start a course at MCAST could be accepted.

On his part, Dr Galea said there are around 685 progressing students while the college is expecting to receive another 550 new students. This means that the number of students attending the college is expected to reach more than 1,200 students.

Dr Galea said the government is "very satisfied" with the response received so far for ICT courses being offered by MCAST. Those who apply for a foundation course have to pass an aptitude test before being accepted.

MCAST is receiving applications for courses until Friday. Applicant may also apply online.