MCAST Students Warn Of Hair Loss Due To Anxiety From Directive Uncertainty
MCAST students of the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Health Sciences have spoken out about the excess anxiety they’re experiencing as a result of the prolonged teachers’ unions directives.
With the first semester drawing to a close and no end to the directives in sight, the students told Lovin Malta that they are in a state of uncertainty and stagnation since no assignments have been issued yet.
“This delay raises significant concerns about the timeline for completing our academic requirements, particularly the risk of assignments being pushed into the summer period.”
“Such a scenario would not only disrupt our academic plans but also jeopardise participation in Erasmus+ opportunities, which is both unfair and demoralising for students who have worked diligently toward this experience.”
“The stress caused by these uncertainties is having severe physical and mental repercussions.”
“Many students are experiencing heightened anxiety, and distress levels have reached a point where some of our peers are reporting serious physical manifestations, such as hair loss.”
“These issues highlight the detrimental impact these directives are having on our well-being.”
The students also warned that the directives have left them unable to make progress on basic tasks such as the approval of their statements of intent for their theses.
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“The lack of clear communication and actionable answers from relevant parties has left us feeling unsupported and disillusioned. While we are repeatedly told to remain patient and reassured that things will improve, the reality is that our futures are being put at risk.”
MCAST students this week staged three separate protests in Mosta, Paola and Luqa, urging the government to listen to lecturers’ calls for higher salaries. A carcade also took place from the MCAST Qormi campus to Paola, where students stuck signs to their car bonnets with the likes of “Stop the academic limbo” and “flus f’butkom hemm imma għall-edukaturi m’hemmx” written.
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