Tertiary education in this country, and especially the university, is going through a very difficult period from the financial point of view, the result being that not only research, which provides much of the lifeblood for a university's existence, but even teaching have begun to suffer badly.

Institutions of higher education have basic requirements: highly qualified teaching staff, and large up-to-date facilities in the form of laboratories, computer centres, and libraries. In return for this, these institutions must provide the degree and other courses required for the country's economic, social and cultural development and act as a powerhouse for the production of new ideas.

The past 17 years have seen an impressively rapid increase in the number of students at the university, and much more recently, at the re-established Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology. In fact over 25 per cent of our school-leavers now enter tertiary education, and this government believes this percentage should be increased considerably, possibly up to 50 per cent, which is the target in the United Kingdom.

Up to now, most first degree courses at the university have not required the payment of fees by Maltese citizens. In addition every student, whatever his or her financial circumstances, is entitled to a stipend covering educational expenses plus a social grant. This means that not only does the state, the main financial supporter of tertiary education, not receive any income from students but it is also paying out millions of liri each year as stipends for students at the Junior College, University and MCAST. No wonder that at a time when the state is in serious financial straits the funding of tertiary institutions has been suffering badly.

In fact, an eminent Maltese academic recently wrote that "to provide a blanket bonanza to students, particularly at a time of dire financial stress, is little short of economic madness." Unfortunately, elements in the party now in power, and the Leader of the Opposition, both for political reasons, appear to be strongly opposed to any radical change in the form of the introduction of fees and the removal of a universal entitlement to stipends. The University Students Council (KSU) are also strongly in favour of retaining most of the current system, but that is not so surprising.

Common sense dictates the need to bring about some changes. According to KSU, the introduction of even a Lm500 annual fee would be readily acceptable to not more than 27 per cent of present students but would the measure be just as unpopular if students were allowed interest-free loans to pay fees, to be repaid only within a certain period after graduating?

The stipend system needs reform even more. It is being abused, as KSU has admitted, and there can be little doubt that for a good number of students it is little more than an extension of their pocket-money arrangements. On the other hand, there are certainly students for whom a stipend makes all the difference. To such persons scholarships should be awarded following an academic-cum-means test.

The university's standards have slid well below those of its peak reached some years ago, and there is little doubt that things will worsen unless considerable sums of money spent on those who could survive comfortably without them are diverted to its use.

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