MEP Peter Agius calls for urgent solution for students with unrecognised courses

European Commissioner Roxana Minzatu stated that educational colleges will have to apply for a licence with foreign entities.

Brussels: The European Commission has confirmed that students pursuing tertiary studies in Malta are paying a heavy price as a result of government failures, after the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) failed its audit by the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR).

In response to a formal request by MEP Peter Agius, the Commission made it clear that the problem has nothing to do with EU law but is entirely the fault of the Maltese Government, which failed to ensure compliance with the European quality assurance system and standards.

European Commission Executive Vice President Roxana Mînzatu said in her reply that “it is up to Malta to ensure that its quality assurance system is aligned with the ESG (European Standards and Guidelines) and to address its shortcomings so that the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority can be registered with EQAR.”

The exclusion of MFHEA from EQAR means that hundreds of Maltese and foreign students in educational institutions in Malta, particularly in the private sector, are facing difficulties in getting their qualifications recognised abroad. Their qualifications are not being acknowledged in other countries because Malta is not a member of EQAR.

This poses a threat both to their future careers and to the fundamental right of free movement of professionals within the European Union.

“This is the worst kind of confirmation: The Commission is unequivocally pointing to the failures of the Maltese authorities,” said MEP Peter Agius. “It is students and their teachers who are paying the price for the government’s incompetence, after investing years of their lives and thousands of euros in education, and who now find themselves in limbo. The Commission is clear: it is the Maltese Government that must fix this situation, and failure to act will mean further harm for students and for Malta’s reputation in Europe.”

Meanwhile, the Commission stated that local educational institutions may seek evaluations from agencies outside Malta. MEP Peter Agius said this is a humiliation for Malta’s entire education sector. He urged the government to immediately rectify the administrative errors and ensure that the Maltese Authority is re-registered with EQAR. He warned that if the Government does not take immediate action before student graduations in September, Maltese educational institutions will have to begin recognition procedures with foreign authorities, rendering the Maltese Authority irrelevant.

“Within our authorities and agencies there are many dedicated officials who work hard to provide services and deliver the benefits of Europe to our country. It is a pity that situations like this arise, where political mismanagement overshadows the good work of so many dedicated people and tarnishes our country’s reputation,” concluded Dr. Peter Agius.