Appeal to secure future of PGCE students

During his visit to the University Freshers’ Week this morning, Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat said, “The University should be our country’s centre of creativity and energy. It should play a more integral part in our society.”

Opposition spokesperson for Youth and Culture, Owen Bonnici accompanying Muscat, noted with satisfaction that the pressure and proposals on behalf of the MLP had forced the authorities to act and solve the issue. However, he appealed for a solution for PGCE students who “still have uncertain futures ahead of them.”

Muscat argued that the University needed to be part of the economic engine of the country contributing more by way of additional research and development of plans for Malta.

Whilst congratulating all students beginning their scholastic years in all educational institutions, Muscat appealed to the authorities responsible for the education sector to review and plan for future years so as not to face the same situations again as with the B.Ed and PGCE course.

“We have had a number of bumps in the education sector, due to a lack of planning. Amongst these was the suspension of European funds, and the issues tied with access to the nursing course in the past and now the teachers’ course. Planning in this area is crucial,” said Muscat.