University stipends (2)

As a final year student at the University of Malta and a Maltese citizen, I acknowledge that the reform was definitely ill-timed and a lot of breath is being wasted in petty talk.

Firstly, the argument that shadow education minister Carmelo Abela made by saying that by reducing the stipends, the government was discouraging the students from furthering their studies, was merely humorous. Mr Abela is saying that the prospect of further study and taking up a career is not enticing enough without a stipend. Does this mean that Mr Abela is encouraging students to enter university for the wrong reason - just to get a stipend? Will a student who chooses to enter university just for the sake of having a stipend be able to take his or her studies seriously and be a competent professional at the end of the four years?

What Malta really needs is not a high number of graduating students but competent graduates who will be able to excel in this increasingly competitive society.

What right does Labour have to lecture in political morality to the present government, when after the 1996 election the Education Minister abolished the stipend system altogether and even suggested that university fees should be reintroduced?

However Mr Abela's question: "Will the government guarantee that the money saved on stipends will be reinvested in the University?" is very appropriate. Let us really hope that this money will be put to good use in our University system! The minister has been so busy raising MCAST, his new 'baby', albeit an institution of vital importance, that he has forgotten how much University desperately needs money for new books and journals.

Following the VAT rate increase to 18 per cent and the rising prices of books student life has become more expensive as KSU rightly pointed out. However in the end it all boils down to one undeniable fact: we students are spoilt rotten by the stipend system! We are lucky enough to be paid by the government to study and we have no right to complain if the government decides to put some money aside to help our education system. If spent appropriately this money will be more beneficial to Maltese students than a bottle of wine on a Saturday night.