Kalkolu żbaljat

Xi ħadd qalli kif akkademiċi fl-Università ta’ Malta jaraw bħala theddida mhux xierqa l-proposta li titwaqqaf Università ġdida fil-Kottonera u fl-inħawi taż-Żonqor, Wied il-Għajn. Iqisu dil-ħaġa bħala imminar tal-integrità u tal-iżvilupp tal-Università ta’ Malta.

Qed jagħmlu kalkolu żbaljat.

Frankament, hemm ħafna argumenti x’jistgħu jitqajmu, favur u kontra, l-proposta għal Università oħra, kif qed issir. Imma dan hu l-aktar argument dgħajjef dwar sustanza u dwar il-konsegwenzi edukattivi li jistgħu jirriżultaw mill-proġett.

Dwar tal-ewwel, diffiċli tara kif università privata tista’ tkun aktar “perikoluża” għall-Università ta’ Malta, milli kienu l-istazzjonijiet privati tat-televixin fir-rigward tal-PBS. Ma kinux u mhumiex.

Dwar tat-tieni, stabbiliment edukattiv (hu liem hu) li jipprovdi programm ta’ tagħlim siewi m’għandux għalfejn jinkwieta mill-“kompetizzjoni” li jistgħu joħolqu istituzzjonijiet oħra. Jiġġudikaw l-istudenti.

Il-mira li l-pajjiż jiżviluppa servizzi edukattivi għall-esportazzjoni hi tajba. Hu kif dil-ħaġa għandha ssir li timmerita l-aqwa konsiderazzjoni. Il-kalkoli jridu jsiru f’dal-qafas. .

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Il-fenomenu Corbyn

Jekk Jeremy Corbyn ġie elett mexxej tal-Partit Laburista Ingliż, u b’maġġoranza aqwa minn ta’ Tony Blair meta ntgħażel għall-istess kariga fi żmienu, min ivvota għalih ried jagħmel ġest politiku. Kien jaf x’qiegħed jagħmel.

Il-midja u l-kummentaturi politiċi ilhom jgħidu kif l-għażla ta’ Corbybn tfisser suwiċidju għall-Partit Labursita Ingliż. Żgur mhux se jirbaħ l-elezzjoni ġenerali li jmiss. X’aktarx li għandhom raġun. Bil-mod kif inhuma mibnija l-mezzi tal-komunikazzjoni tal-massa u kif imfassla l-organi soċjali li jifformaw l-opinjoni publika, Corbyn se jaffaċċja magna li tixkupa l-voti bogħod minnu.

Imma dawk li vvotawlu, fosthom maġġoranza ta’ żgħażagħ, kienu jafuha dil-ħaġa.

Ivvotawlu għax riedu partit li joffri alternattiva, anki jekk mhijiex se tintlaqa’ mill-maġġoranza tal-poplu. Ma ridux jibqgħu lsiera tal-kaċċa għall-voti li wasslet biex il-partiti soċjalisti ftit li xejn ikollhom x’jiddistingwihom mill-partiti tal-lemin, u dan biex il-votanti taċ-“ċentru” ma jwarrbuhomx.

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Iddispjaċieni

Interessanti l-programm (Fast Forward/ Pause – Play) li dil-ġimgħa qed ittella’ s-soċjetà tal-MUSEUM. Waqt li hi mitqiesa bħala waħda mill-aktar għaqdiet tradizzjonali fl-istrutturi kattoliċi tal-pajjiż, irnexxielha toħloq programm modern u effettiv. Iddispjaċieni li għal raġunijet ta’ safar, mhux se nkun nista’ nsegwi anki parti minnu.

Jinkludi linja ta’ films li nħadmu fl-aħħar snin u jagħtu viżjoni ħajja tal-kuntrasti fis-soċjetà kontemporanja. Kif ukoll laqgħat ta’ diskussjoni.

Forsi tinħass stramba, imma nqis lili nnifsi ammiratur tas-soċjetà tal-MUSEUM. Anki meta ma qbiltx mal-ideat tagħhom, il-membri tagħha dejjem dehruli onesti, sinċiera u dedikati.

It-tiġdid li qed iwettqu l-mexxejja tal-MUSEUM fl-organizzazzjoni tal-għaqda hu ammireovli.

English Version – Wrong calculation

Somebody told me that certain academic staff at the University of Malta consider the proposal to set up a new University in the Cottonera area and at Zonqor in Marsacala as a threat too many. They believe the project could undermine the integrity and development of the Malta University.

They’re making the wrong calculation.

Frankly, many claims could be advanced, in favour and againt, the proposal for a new University, including the way this is being done. But possibly the above is the weakest argument that could be made against the project, both substantively and in terms of the educational consequences that could result from its implementation.

In first place, it is difficult to see how a private University could be more of a “threat” to the Malta University, than the private TV stations have been to PBS. They weren’t and are not.

Secondly, an educational establishment which is providing teaching programmes that are worthwhile, need not worry about the “competition” that other institutions could offer. Let students decide.

The objective set for the island – to develop educational services for export – is well taken. What merits the utmost consideration is how to set about achieving this aim. That should be the context for all claims and calculations.

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The Corbyn phenomenon

Those who voted to elect Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the British Labour Party, with a stronger majority than when Tony Blair was chosen for the same post, wanted to make a political statement. They knew what they were doing.

The media and political analysts had been proclaiming for quite a while that choosing Corbyn would mean suicide for Labour. It would for sure not win the next general election. They’re probably right. Given how the mass means of communication are structured and given the design of the social institutions that mould public opinion, Corbynwill be facing a machine rolling to sweep votes away from him.

But those who voted him in, among whom a majority of young people, knew this.

They voted for him because they wanted to belong to a party which offers a real altenative, even if it does not secure the approval of the majority of the population. They did not wish to remain focussed on a hunt for votes that has made socialist parties indistinguishable from right wing parties, in order not to be shunned by “centrist” voters.

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Regrets

The programme of activities Fast Forward/Pause –Play that is being organized this week by the MUSEUM society is an attractive one Though seen as one of the most traditional groupings in the Catholic structures of this country, the society has succeeded in launching a modern and effective project. Due to travel commitments, I regret not being able to attend for even a part of it.

The presentations on offer feature a line up of films produced in recent years which portray vividly the contrasts in contemporary societies. Included too are a round of discussion meetings.

It might sound strange that I have a soft spot, an admiration even, for the MUSEUM society. Even when disagreeing with some of their views, I always believed its members were honest, sincere and dedicated in their work.

The renewal being attempted by the MUSEUM’s leaders in the running of their organization cannot but be admired.