The Nationalist Party on Thursday pressed the government to return to negotiations with the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) and said that, as things are, the future of students attending the college is being undermined.

PN MP’s Justin Schembri, Ivan Castillo and Bernice Bonello said in a press conference that the government’s reluctance to negotiate is an insult to all MCAST stakeholders as well as a denial of the students’ rights.

The PN said this in light of a current deadlock in negotiations between the MUT and the Industrial Relations Unit, teachers have been ordered not to divulge assessment marks to their students.

Schembri said that it is “obvious” that whenever the Prime Minister, Robert Abela, finds himself with his back against a wall he will blame everyone but himself and such is the case in MCAST. He said that lecturers at MCAST are not receiving the treatment they deserve and that students do not know their future.

Schembri said that students’ marks not being given, exams have been cancelled and final year students have been left without a direction due to results and certificates not being issued.  He said that it is “insulting” not only to students but also lecturers and the representative union, the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT).

On his part, Castillo said that the collective agreement expired two and a half years ago when, currently, in another 2 and a half years, it is meant to be renewed. He said that “it is clear that educators are not important to the government” and continued that the government’s motto of ‘equal work for equal pay’ is only brought up before elections and when it best suits the government.

Castillo said that under a PN government, the Industrial Relations Unit would be better equipped to deal with the situation and added that the PN gives importance to educators even industrially. He said“the ball is in the government’s court” and must return to the debating table.

Bonello said that the government is playing with the future of the country since the students are the future and the new workforce. She said that currently students are under such pressure from the government that some are considering stopping their education.

Bonello said that all students are asking for is what is theirs: assessment and marks. She reiterated that it is a disrespect to students and teachers.

Bonello said that it cannot be that an academic year has come to an end and marks have still not been issued before  questioning what will happen in the upcoming academic year; if students must repeat a year or “lose” a year in order to catch up. Furthermore, she said that currently, final year students are missing job and training opportunities due to employers asking for results or if they will be unavailable for another year.

Bonello commended a “minister” for trying to ameliorate the situation and provide jobs for students as well as trying to avoid their repetition of a year, however, she said that students don’t want quick fixes, but what is their right that they earned over years. She concluded in questioning how many students the government is willing to lose, when every one of them is needed.