University academics given mid-June appointment with Education Minister

Time runs out for MPs to file objection to legal notice

University academics who have requested an urgent meeting to discuss the controversial Legal Notice 150 of 2015, which has altered the requirements for educational institutions to be accredited as universities, with Education Minister Evarist Bartolo have been given an appointment in mid-June, this newspaper has learned.

As such, academics’ feedback to the legal notice, which was revealed by this newspaper last month, following clarifications they are seeking from the government will not reach the Opposition until it will be too late for Opposition MPs to file an objection to the legal notice.

Parliamentary rules stipulate that a legal notice can be challenged by way of a negative resolution in the House within 28 days of its publication.

The legal notice in question, LN150 of 2015, was published on 8 May 2015, which means that the window for an MP to file a negative resolution will close on 5 June.

On Friday, Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil met with university academics to discuss LN150, which has “lowered the requirements” needed by an entity to qualify as a university.

“The lecturers expressed concern over this change in the law, mostly because of the way in which this will affect the University’s reputation,” Dr Busuttil said.

“There is nothing wrong in having another university but the government should not lower existing standards. That could affect the reputation enjoyed so far by the University of Malta and those who graduated here.”

Dr Busuttil said that another major concern was the fact that the legal notice provides the authorities with the possibility to accredit an education institution as a university in the “public interest”.

Shadow Education Minister Therese Comodini Cachia explained how the PN was already concerned about environmental and economic issues when the Żonqor project was announced, but those concerns had increased when this legal notice was published, effectively lowering the standards for the establishment of new universities.

She asked if the government would give equal assistance to the University of Malta and if it would remain committed to invest in the institution. She also asked what expertise the Jordanian investor in the American University of Malta had in the education sector and how the government would ensure that the project would not harm Malta’s reputation.