Complaint on unreasonable delay in MCAST recruitment process upheld by Commissioner for Education

Complaint on unreasonable delay in MCAST recruitment process upheld by Commissioner for Education

Published April 16, 2026

The Complaint

The complaint was lodged on 19 November 2025 by a third country national residing in Malta who applied for a full-time academic post in Entrepreneurship Key Skills at lecturer level with MCAST.

The complainant raised two concerns. He claimed that he was not treated fairly during the recruitment process. He also stated that the administration failed to provide him with information on the outcome of the selection process despite his requests.

The Investigation

The Commissioner examined whether the recruitment process complied with the principles of good administration and the provisions of the Ombudsman Act. The assessment focused on the procedures followed by the selection board, including the interview process, the marking system, and the reasons supporting the final ranking.

The evidence showed that the call for applications closed on 4 June 2025, interviews were held in late August, and the final outcome was communicated on 19 November 2025. The selected candidate accepted the offer on 8 January 2026.

A detailed review of the selection process confirmed that it was conducted correctly. Sixteen candidates were interviewed, and the complainant was ranked fifteenth based on the marks awarded. No irregularities or evidence of unfair treatment were identified in the evaluation or ranking process.

However, the investigation established that the overall duration of the recruitment process was excessive. The process took over six months to conclude, and even internal guidelines on timing were not followed. The delay also contributed to the lack of clear communication, as the complainant’s queries could not be properly addressed while the process remained ongoing.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The Commissioner concluded that the complaint was not justified in relation to the fairness of the selection process. The recruitment procedure and ranking were found to be in line with applicable rules.

However, the Commissioner upheld the complaint regarding the unreasonable delay. The time taken to conclude the process was excessive and amounted to poor administrative practice. Keeping applicants waiting for several months was considered unjust and placed them in a position of uncertainty.

The Commissioner recommended that MCAST take immediate steps to ensure that recruitment processes are concluded within a reasonable and clearly defined timeframe from the closing date of applications. This would improve transparency, reduce uncertainty for applicants, and strengthen good administrative practice.

The Final Opinion is being published pursuant to Art. 29(2) of the Ombudsman Act.