Stipends for Maltese students abroad

I would like to appeal to the Minister of Education to look into the possibility of granting the same allowances given to students attending the University of Malta to those students who through no fault of their own have to study abroad.

I refer in particular to those students who are presently reading veterinary medicine at the University of Perugia in Italy. There are presently seven students in this course. The only reason why they are in Italy is that our university does not offer this course. Despite this they do not qualify for any grant, stipend, smart card and the like.

Surely the minister will not break the bank if he extends these facilities to these students. It must also be recorded that they have to pay for tuition, books and boarding. This amounts to around Lm4,000 a year. One must also remember that they are in a foreign land and have to undergo their studies in a foreign language.

At the end of their studies these students come back to Malta to practise here. I feel that the Minister of Education should extend the facilities given to local students without delay as when they decided to take up the noble medical care of animals they had no chance to do so in their home country.