MCAST students to hold protest as MUT, government negotiations reach stalemate

MCAST students are set to hold a protest as negotiations between the Malta Union of Teachers and the government over a new collective agreement have reached a stalemate, pushing the union to issue directivesFrustration continues to build among MCAST

By: independent.com.mt

Oct 03 2024
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MCAST students to hold protest

Frustration continues to build among MCAST students as they prepare to stage their third protest this year, demanding resolution to the ongoing dispute between the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) and the government, the students said in a statement Thursday

Both students and lecturers are increasingly affected by the stalemate, which remains unresolved despite the start of the new academic year.

The protest is set for Friday, 11 October at 11:45 am in front of the MCAST Paola canteen. It will be led by journalism student and former KSM Vice President Emma Brownrigg Fenech, who is calling for immediate action to address the situation.

The latest directives, effective from October 4, further strain the relationship between lecturers and students, imposing strict limits on communication, restricting extracurricular activities, and withholding academic feedback, leaving students in uncertainty regarding their progress.

In contrast, Education Minister Clifton Grima recently allocated €27 million to subsidise private schools, including €3 million specifically aimed at preventing fee hikes in independent schools. These funds could have been directed toward improving MCAST lecturers' salaries, a much-needed investment that would address the root of the current dispute, the students said.

"MCAST students and lecturers are being treated unfairly, and we will not stand by while our education is compromised," said Brownrigg Fenech. "Students deserve clarity on their academic future, and lecturers deserve fair wages. We are protesting to end this injustice."