GUG meets AD
On the 11th of September GUG has met with Alternativa Demokratika.
In the meeting Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party, highlighted the fact that not everyone seems to be aware of the sacrifices made by Gozitan students, who either have to wake up very early to travel daily to Malta for their studies or have to find accommodation for the best part of the week in a flat, returning to Gozo for the weekend.
Arnold Cassola, Chairperson, Alternattiva Demokratika said: “Inevitably such an experience at a relatively early age helps to build up a sense of independence which empowers the Gozitan student to face with courage all the challenges which are part and parcel of living alone and independently, such as budgeting skills and money management, rental of accommodation, social or solitary life and public transport, to name just a few.”
The GUG committee members mentioned also the challenges as well as the lack ofencouragement from certain official quarters with particular regard to the issues concerning public transport and the Gozo ferry. We also referred to the way some of the students are treated by the flat owners and to the fact that none of the Gozitan students are offered the opportunity to make use of the University Students Residence Centre. Foreign students are preferred by the University because they pay higher rental fees. The Gozo University Centre’s library lacks a digital database of books available and students cannot access this information on-line. The need for a further extension of the video conferencing services the University Centre at Xewkija was also highlighted.
Arnold Cassola concluded by strongly recommending to the Authorities to listen to and react positively to the complaints raised by Gozitan students. He singled out in particular the Transport Authority. Due to delayed trips and/or lack of trips from Valetta and the University to Cirkewwa; students on many occasions have had to wait for the Gozo ferry for many hours in Winter. He added :” Gozitan students, who account for 10% of all the University students, are not demanding any special favours. They only expect to be treated with more respect as citizens who, after all, are a source of the nation’s investment for the future. Everybody should agree that Gozitan students should not be treated as a second-class citizens.”
