Students will no longer require a pass mark in all three of the core O-level subjects in order to be admitted to Junior College, a legal notice published by the government has decreed.

Previously, students needed to achieve a grade of 5 or higher in three core subjects – Mathematics, English, and Maltese – in order to get into the sixth form college.

Through legal notice 105 of 2022 however, that requirement has changed so that only one pass mark in any of the three subjects will be needed to be admitted.

“Applicants may be admitted to the University as Junior Students at the Junior College of the University if they are in possession of six passes in the Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) examination at grade 5 or better, provided that one of the subjects must be Maltese, English Language or Mathematics,” the legal notice reads.

A pass in all three subjects will still be required in order to be admitted to the University of Malta however, and those who wish to get to that stage must attend preparatory classes at Junior College in order to make up for the exams which they failed.

Previously, students who wanted to get into a conventional sixth form but didn't have the necessary O-levels to do so could attend Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School and complete their missing O-levels there while also starting to study for other intermediate and advanced level exams.

 

Reacting to the news, the Nationalist Party said that it is “incredible” that days before the election the entry requirements for Junior College had hastily been changed without any discussion or consultation.

The PN said that the Education Minister must give an explanation as soon as possible with regards to this decision, and noted that such a change has major consequences on students and the educational system of the country, which they said that the educational system cannot be taken up by partisanism.

“If this is another attempt at buying votes then it is clear that the Labour Party is stooping to unprecedented levels in order to snatch more power into its hands,” the PN said.

In their own reaction to the news, the Malta Union of Teachers called for the suspension of the legal notice on student entry requirements to the University of Malta Junior College.

“Whilst the union notices that this is a process carried out by the University of Malta, it is requesting the Government to intervene in having the by-law suspended pending a new administration and discussions on the matter. The outcry of educators and the public, following the announced changes without any consultation, need to be considered thoroughly and consensus need to be sought,” the union said.

 

Meanwhile, the MUT has already announced that it has communicated with the Rector at the University of Malta and the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Education and Sport about this issue following queries and objections received from members. It will be updating members accordingly.