Injustice

This week we faced a rather disappointing situation. So, as usual after the lecture of Game Design we headed towards our class for Critical Thinking. For the first time, we found our lecturer waiting for us with his smartphone in his hand. We soon discovered that he was timing us to see how long it took us to arrive to his class. Please first note that the previous lesson was at the top floor of the main wing of the campus, so it is expected to take about five minutes to just walk to the lesson since we still do not have the ability of teleportation.

Before coming for the lesson, a friend of mine went for a quick side quest to buy a light snack since we had had a two-hour lecture before and normal human beings usually need to hydrate and replenish a bit. He arrived to class about two to three minutes later than us. The lecturer looked at the clock and told him that he is not accepted since the policy on the Student hand book dictates that after ten minutes a student is not allowed in class.

So, let’s break down this story. For some lessons, prior to this event, we waited for the lecturer more than twenty minutes; we did not take action because we are capable of reasoning and know that anyone can have inconveniences. Putting this aside, when my friend was sent out of class, the exact time minute was thirty-nine, and the lesson starts at 14:30; therefore, strictly speaking, he had all right to stay in class since only nine minutes had passed.

But let’s dig further on this matter, shall we? We are at University level which should make a difference in regulations. The Level 4 MCAST Technical Student Handbook 2016 – 2017 on page thirty-five states that, “Students will not be admitted in class later than 10 minutes after the lesson has started and will be marked as absent unless an excused note signed by the Director/Deputy Director is presented to the lecturer in charge of the lesson”.

First of all, what defines the start of the lesson? Is it the time when the actual lesson should begin (as assigned on the timetable), or when students are gathered and the lecturer decides that it’s time to begin the lesson? If it’s the latter, my friend was just two to three minutes late. We cannot know for sure if he was in fact ‘ten minutes late’ since there is no definition in the regulation book of “start of the lesson”.

Secondly, at University level the ten-minute regulation does not seem to apply to us. In the MCAST University Student Handbook 2016 – 2017 on page thirteen there is stated that “Whilst all the above mentioned regulations are important, The University College Regulations is the main set of regulations which, in conjunction with this handbook, provide detailed information which is vital for the students’ stay at MCAST. The University College Regulations include information on:

• Student Behaviour and Academic Conduct

• Attendance Regulations

• Assessment Regulations

• Work Based Learning Regulations

• Progression and Certification

• Dissertation Guidelines.”

So, let’s take a look at the MCAST University College Programme Regulations issued on the 14th October 2016. On page eleven where the attendance regulations are listed, it is not even mentioned that a student cannot attend the lesson if a certain time is exceeded. Therefore, the whole argument of the lecturer falls to null.

From this experience and research, I learned my right as a University student and next time that a similar situation arises I know how to defend myself and my fellow students by dictating direct regulations from MCAST itself.

Referances

MCAST, 2016 - 2017. Technical Collge Handbook. [Online] Available at: http://www.mcast.edu.mt/Portals/0/DOWNLOAD%20FILES/Handbooks/Technical%20College%20Handbook%20(for%20print).pdf [Accessed 26 February 2017].

MCAST, 2016 - 2017. University College Handbook. [Online] Available at: http://www.mcast.edu.mt/Portals/0/DOWNLOAD%20FILES/Handbooks/UNIVERSITY%20College%20Handbook%20(for%20print).pdf [Accessed 26 February 2017].

MCAST, 2016. university college programme regulations - MCAST. [Online] Available at: http://www.mcast.edu.mt/Portals/0/DOWNLOAD%20FILES/RULES,%20POLICIES%20AND%20REGULATIONS/DOC-005-CORP-REV-B-UNIVERSITY%20COLLEGE%20PROGRAMME%20REGULATIONS.pdf [Accessed 26 February 2017].