Be the first to comment!Pharmacy students having to physically sit exams is ”rather discriminating” – MPSA
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The Malta Pharmaceutical Students’ Association (MPSA) has said that it finds the fact that students reading for their degree with the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Malta are expected to do their exams physically, ”rather discriminating.”
In a statement, the MPSA said that this is in light of the fact that the majority of Faculties, Institutes, Centres and Schools of the University of Malta have made necessary arrangements for the upcoming exams to be held online.
”It seems that the university is using two weights two measures especially when a good number of pharmacy students have volunteered to help with the preparation of the vaccines and other related work to be of service to the community and thus putting their health at risk,” the Association said.
It stated that ”while pharmacy students pride themselves in being frontliners with all the risks this entails, it is very disturbing to know that nothing is being done by the University to safeguard their health and studies.”
The MPSA stressed that the University should issue a common protocol for all, independent of the faculty or institute so as to avoid discrimination.
”It is unfair that students who are in quarantine or tested positive because of others have to have their exams postponed just to be physically on campus especially when other university students have had their exams shifted online,” the Association said.
It went on to say that ”it would be greatly unjust and unfair if any student was to contract the virus from examination sessions and spread it to family members or even to vulnerable people with whom they might get in contact. Not to mention that students will have to quarantine with the risk of having their exams postponed to the March special session.”
”We hope that goodwill will prevail,” the Association said. ”After all, the system of online exams is already in place. Examination conditions should be the same across the board.”
The Malta Chamber of Pharmacists has endorsed the request by MPSA on behalf of pharmacy students and called on the University of Malta Faculty of Medicine and Surgery to find a ”just solution to ensure safety and peace of mind to pharmacy students and their families during the Covid-19 pandemic, whilst meeting the University’s academic criteria.”
