It took them quite a while to react, but it’s better late than never.

A number of lecturers at the University of Malta who teach Maltese, English and mathematics a few days ago expressed their concern that the entry requirements for the Junior College have been lowered.

The reaction came in July, six months after the University Senate announced changes to these entry requirements. These changes now mean that students in possession of six passes (Grades 1-5) at SEC level will be allowed to enrol at the Junior College even if they have a pass in only one of the care subjects – Maltese, English and mathematics.

Previously, students needed passes in all three to be accepted; now they need only one. The only caveat is that a pass mark in all three is needed to be accepted to University. In other words, students who want to make it to University have been given an extra two years to obtain a pass in Maltese, English and maths. In the meantime, they can go to the Junior College anyway.

“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 the students themselves, we believe that any changes made should not lessen the importance of these competencies,” the lecturers said in their statement.

The University thinks otherwise.

This lowering of the standards will not help improve a situation which is already delicate. The level of spoken and written Maltese and English over the last years has plummeted, with many graduates leaving Tal-Qroqq with a degree but without being able to write in proper Maltese and English, or communicate well in both languages.

The fact that the University has now thought it fit to make things easier for students does not indicate that it has confidence in our youngsters. The university is also sending the message that there is no need to study hard in the final years of secondary education.

It has not realised that if students take it easy in secondary education, they will get used to a system that does not expect too much from them and, in so doing, they will not push themselves harder. They will carry the consequences of having it easier in secondary education into their post-secondary and tertiary education, and into their adult life, when they need to work hard to make a living.

Employers today are already finding it hard to recruit youngsters who are committed to a job. Setting lower standards will instil a lower sense of commitment and responsibility in upcoming generations, and so the problem employers are facing today will grow more in the coming years.

What the university has done is give students an excuse. It has also sent the message to these students that not much is expected of them.

Based on what the UOM has decided, the day will come when these students are adults and are in a job, and they will expect their employer to assign them fewer or easier tasks than the employer has in mind.

They will have the University to thank for their dismissal. Or else employers will have to accept lower production.

Either way, it will not be good.