One of the points on the work plan of KSU’s Education Commission was “Shall work so that the Sciences Laboratories will be equipped with better resources”.

In a report (The lab… a virtual lecture room?) published by KSU’s Education Commission the labs, related facilities and other relevant resources used by undergraduate students in the Chemistry and Biology departments were scrutinised.

It is a known fact that science labs are of crucial importance in teaching. As Margaret Mead, an American anthropologists said “If one cannot state a matter clearly enough so that even an intelligent twelve-year-old can understand it, one should remain within the cloistered walls of the University and laboratory until one gets a better grasp of one's subject matter”.

However, the laboratory experience has been taken for granted and have rarely been carefully considered until quite recently. In a knowledge based economy where Science and Technology are of crucial importance, one should understand that students who study in these sectors should be capable to use and be familiar with modern techniques and facilities. It is mainly for this reason that KSU is worried because we feel that students are not really gaining the experience they expect as Science students when it comes to research and related matters. 

As article 72(h) of the Education Act states, the University has the function and power to set up and properly maintain laboratories required for research and experimentation. On the other hand in several circumstances, University staff have pointed out that the current funds allocated for these purposes are not enough to do the drastic refurbishment which is required.

Moreover, although Science subjects are gaining popularity, the biggest problem faced by the departments is that the present facilities where not meant to host such a big number of students (approx. over 60 students per year) and hence equipment and commodity is extremely limited. On the other hand, whereas the number of students is increasing, the funds allocated to the departments did not increase in a proportional manner in the past years.

This is why KSU in the pre-budget document has also urged the Government to allocate more funds specifically for these laboratories.

The present state of the laboratories which are mainly being used throughout undergraduate courses may be considered to be quite unsatisfactory. When assessing the state/condition of the laboratories, one has to bear in mind the fact that such facilities have been in use for a good number of years and hence it is quite logical that they are in dire need for proper refurbishment.

The study pointed out how one of the fume hoods in the Chemistry department undergraduate lab found in the ground floor is not working. Other health hazards were pointed out. The biology department undergraduate facilities require the installation of a water recycling system. On the whole resources are limited and have to be shared.

However the report also pointed out that the current problems are not only concerned with funding. Academic ‘territorialism’, i.e. when resources of one individual cannot be used by another individual within the same or different department, should be ceased.

We conclude that further funding is required to keep the labs up to standard. However any equipment within the university premises should be available for any individual doing a study under the auspices of the University of Malta. An inventory with all the resources available should be compiled and all students and staff should have access to this document.

For this reason we insist that the respective authorities within the University should take action so that in a scenario where funding is already hindering education, other administrative and internal political problems do not further influence higher education.

A copy of this report can be downloaded from the resources page.

Karl Agius
KSU, Education Commissioner
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