The Nationalist Party earlier this week once again expressed serious concern over the unacceptable situation at MCAST.

This was in reference to the continued collective agreement negotiations, which have been ongoing for almost three years.

Lecturers, led by the Malta Union of Teachers, held a protest at the beginning of October, and more directives were brought into force. Students also organised a small protest of their own.

On 13 October, MUT President Marco Bonnici and Prime Minister Robert Abela, during a Labour Party activity, confirmed that negotiations are taking place. At least talks are under way.

But the situation is absolutely ridiculous. Negotiations should never take this long, it is unfair on the educators themselves, and also on the students at MCAST.

On 25 October, the Office of the Ombudsman, through the Commissioner for Education, expressed its grave concern at the situation at MCAST as a result of trade union directives to teaching staff which, it said, now risk impacting the graduation of students. According to reports reaching the Office, a number of students who should be graduating in the coming weeks will not be able to do so because the examiners, in line with the union directives, have not passed on the required details to the administration to enable proper assessment and verification prior to graduation, the office said in statement.

The Commissioner urged the parties in the negotiations to reach a modus vivendi at least on the question of exam details required for graduation purposes, and again urged them to make every effort to reach a global agreement on all pending issues. One hopes this situation is being sorted out.

Both sides need to reach agreement soon, the situation has gone on for long enough. Educators deserve good conditions, students deserve to have a good education without outside hassles impacting them. The issues which are preventing an agreement being found are not publicly known, but one hopes that in the end, the package that the educators receive will be a good one. It is good that negotiations are taking place, but the two sides need to find a solution where educators are given a financial package that reflects the hard work that they carry out.

Having such a prolonged and drawn-out negotiations procedure creates tension. Agreement was able to be found over the State schools sectoral agreement, but even there, directives were issued and even a one-day strike had to be held before agreement was eventually signed.

That's two major disputes between educators and the State in such a short period of time. Students are the ones who, at the end of the day, end up being impacted negatively. Their situation must also be taken into consideration. One hopes that an agreement will be found soon and that this chapter will close.