Student organisation welcomes MATSEC reform

Welcoming the amendments to the MATSEC system, student organisation Pulse said the new system will allow more students making it to University without having to sit for exams already passed in previous years.

This week, the education ministry said that the Matriculation certificate for entry to University will be possible to obtain over a period of five years, instead of one year.

The matriculation certificate (MATSEC) is a certificate awarded to post-secondary students and is the admission requirement of the University of Malta. Students are required to sit for six subjects from various areas in one session of the examination.

"The new system will allow more students making it to University without having to sit for exams which they already passed in previous years," Pulse said in a statement.

"The new period allowed is far more reasonable and will eliminate the present obstacles which students face when they fail one of their Advanced Level or Intermediate exams."

Pulse said it hoped that such sensible decisions continue to be taken by the local education authorities. "These are decisions which are not aimed at increasing numbers while giving up quality, but regulations which would make our system more accessible to different students with various challenges," it said.

Pulse also encouraged MATSEC to strengthen its communication with the students by avoiding confusion and explain any changes accordingly to students and students' representatives.