The stipends system - its psychological effects

The other day two University students approached me and asked me seriously: "If we attend the weekend seminar you are organising for the public, how much will you pay us as overtime?"! The question itself reflects these students' attitude towards their...

The purpose of this article is to examine the psychological impact the stipend system is having on the students' basic attitudes to life, namely, towards society, work, parents, lecturers and themselves.

What is discussed is the idea itself of offering free financial contributions to students simply because they are following a University course. The emphasis is not about whether tuition should be free nor if grants should be given to students coming from low-income families.

Attitude towards society

At times you hear some students stating categorically that receiving stipends - not just access to higher education - is one of their rights. They feel that society owes them remuneration for studying. It is an entitlement. Their attitude becomes "what should my country do for me", not the converse. Ultimately, it is the citizens in society who are paying them through their taxes. These citizens include non-University youths who are thus subsidising fellow young students to help them gain a better position in society than themselves.

On the other hand, students from low-income families deserve more than just the actual amount given as stipends. If these are really in need of financial assistance in order to attend university, then society should be ready to provide them with the corresponding sum of money required. The argument about treating all students equally without distinction does not prevail. It's the principle of equity more than equality which is at stake in a welfare state.

Attitude towards work

It has been said that one of the intentions of giving stipends is that of offering an incentive to our young people to pursue higher studies. What an extrinsic monetary motivation to have recourse to! And all this so that we could be proud of the high percentage of the student population at University! Who cares about the wrong motivation as long as we get those numbers! In any case, most of these would probably still afford to go to university even without stipends.

This whole issue is depriving some of our youths from wanting to spend some of their time dedicated to unpaid voluntary work. Their criterion in accepting work has become conditioned by the amount of pay given them. It would be beneficial for our students to realise that they have to do some extra work besides studying to earn a living. In many countries they even have to work so as to pay their tuition fees.

What is serious about students' work ethic is that some of them will be transferring their present attitudes towards studies to their future workplace. It has become acceptable, for instance, for certain students not to attend lectures, or to arrive late for lectures, or to leave early. They would protest if a lecturer checks their attendance because that would show they are not being trusted.

They would even consider it as unfair if they are paid less because of their absences or late-coming. At their future workplace, they will resent any form of control or accountability. "Why do we have to be tested to get our grade?" they argue.

Attitude towards lecturers

The fact that our students are being paid for their studying has created an attitude that by attending lectures or handing in an assignment they are doing a favour to their lecturers. A common expression used is "ghamiltulek l-assignment!" (here's your assignment).

At times, some students become overly assertive and lacking respect towards lecturers. They tend to be quite demanding of their lecturers. Because, after all, "as lecturers you're being paid for this, like us!" To be fair, however, certain complaints by students regarding lack of proper accountability on the part of some lecturers are justified.

Attitude towards parents

Given that most students still live with their parents, one wonders whether they really need the stipends. The argument in favour of stipends, based on the students' independence from their parents, barely holds water.

While in the past students showed a certain healthy amount of dependence on their parents, now they are insisting too much on total independence since they no longer need their parents' financial assistance. Not that parents should exploit this dependence or use it as a form of blackmail.

The message received by parents has become "so now you have no way of interfering because I'm studying and living on my own money which I can use in anyway I want".

Attitude towards themselves

Psychologically, students would develop greater maturity if they work to earn money during their studies. They would get accustomed to have financial revenues through the work they produce other than studying. Already since their childhood our youths had received the message that whatever they need or want, especially material things, will be given to them at no price. We have already spoiled them as children.

We are now witnessing in our students an exaggerated consumerism, buying the most luxurious things which they consider as needs, in order to be fashionable like everyone else.

Students themselves admit that some of their colleagues are abusing the stipends system. Rather than using their stipends for educational purposes they spend their money for luxurious living. The underlying mentality is "that's my money and I do with it whatever I want - so please mind your own business".

One must admit that there is less abuse of the system today. Fortunately, there are also quite a few students who use their stipends wisely for their personal formation and altruistically to help fellow students with less resources. Still, I do not want to imply that it's simply the abuse of the system, or the way it's implemented, which is at stake but the very concept itself.

Positive effects

In listing the negative psychological effects that the stipends' system has brought about in students, I do not want to ignore its positive effects and advantages. It has succeeded in attracting more students to University. It has reassured students of their financial security while pursuing their studies. It has provided them with the opportunity to experience how to allocate properly their monetary revenue. Among the more mature ones, it has created a greater sense of responsibility and accountability.

I am also aware that some of the psychological effects I have mentioned need not be attributed to the stipend system but due to other factors as well.

Nonetheless, in the long haul, the stipends system in its present form has reaped negative results which outweigh its benefits. If education aims at forming the whole person to become mature and responsible, this outcome should become a basic norm to measure the psychological success or failure of the system.

We tend to learn to appreciate something when we experience its psychological cost on us. Conversely, when we do not need to invest much of our money, time or energy to achieve something, then we take that achievement for granted, especially if it is offered free of charge or even being paid for it.

A question of principle

The issue of removing, retaining or modifying the stipends system should not be considered short-sightedly in view of the country's present financial deficit. In which case one would simply decide to temporarily curtail the amount given until better times. The issue is rather a question of principle both in terms of the psychological maturity of the individual and the social justice factor.

In my opinion, we would be respecting both aspects if the unconditional giving of stipends to all students be eliminated and instead partial or full scholarships be offered to students in accordance with their financial needs.

Fr Alfred Darmanin, a psychologist, is a senior lecturer in the department of psychology at the University. This article reflects his own personal opinion and not necessarily that of a group or organisation he belongs to.