Lm9 million in University stipends

University stipends will increase to Lm9 million (€20.9 million) from Lm8.2 million (€19.1 million), Education Minister Louis Galea has said.

Over 14,500 students will benefit from the stipends in various institutions, he said.

Dr Galea was addressing youths during the annual meeting organised by the National Students' Council for youths in the localities of Naxxar, Tarxien, Mellieha, St Paul's Bay, Sta Venera and Nadur.

Dwelling on the various schemes and scholarship programmes being offered to youths, the minister said the government was providing all the necessary support to ensure students have an active role in the development of society.

He said the millions of liri invested in education and training had led to a situation where 70 per cent of youths were pursuing post-secondary and vocational studies.

The government, he said, also offered financial assistance to youth organisations, which, through the Youth Support Programme, implemented projects beneficial to society. A total of 181 projects received the sum of Lm50,000 (€116,468) over the last five years, he said.