Christopher Cutajar, PRO, Żminijietna Left Youth, Valletta
Stipends system essential for inclusive education
Żminijietna Left Youth, Alternattiva Demokratika Żgħażagħ, General Workers' Union Youth, Moviment Graffitti, Forum Żgħażagħ Laburisti, Science Students' Society, Greenhouse and Għaqda Studenti Ħarsien Soċjali welcome the report of the University Students' Council on the importance of having quality education that reflects the needs and development of contemporary society.
On the other hand, these organisations are concerned with certain comments being put forward by some, including the Ecofin Country Focus (commissioned by the European Commission) and the Chalmers Report (commissioned by the government), which are questioning Malta's stipend system.
Malta has made tremendous advances in post-secondary and tertiary education over the past years, and the stipend system has helped encourage thousands of students to continue their studies. Without stipends, many students would have experienced much difficulty in furthering their studies. Still, Malta has the lowest participation rate in post-secondary and tertiary education in the EU. Reduction of stipends would surely not help the situation.
The Ecofin Country Focus and the Chalmers Report want to turn the clock back towards an elitist form of education where only the privileged have complete access.
The above organisations believe that the stipends system should be maintained, while being ensured that grants are being used for educational, and not other, purposes. The system should also be more generous towards students in institutions such as Mcast.
We believe that during the summer months, students should also benefit from schemes through which they can match their studies with practical work. This can include applied work, research, technical work, artistic work and other experiences.
If Malta truly aims for a higher student participation rate in post-secondary and tertiary education, the way forward is to move Malta's primary and secondary school system away from streaming and towards more inclusive forms of education. We agree with the government's proposals in this regard.
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David Pisani
Mar 23rd 2009, 20:48
Stipend is one thing and grant is another. If there is any abuse, is more with the grant system. This because the shops entitled for the student card scheme sell not only educational materials, but also other things not related, such as i pod etc. Stipend is just a few euros, which i believe that it is being spent in educational purposes as costs include transport, food, photocopies on small amount etc. Its true that when compare to other EU countries Malta is still lacking behind in tertiary and higher education.
c.camilleri
Mar 23rd 2009, 19:18
'Stipends system essential for inclusive education' so long as the stipend is used for studying purposes and not for paying the cars' installments or other items unrelated to education.
Kurt Mifsud
Mar 23rd 2009, 18:06
@D Vella Exactly, that has always been my point. Being an ex-student myself, many (and when I say many it means MANY) students just go there and waste their time just because they don't want to work yet. If they hadn't any stipend they would definitely seek another option. What I don't understand is that students are encouraged to leave the country once they graduate and work abroad. This has been going on since the pre-election campaign of 2003. Why promote Brain Drain? At least let's seek other alternatives instead of pushing more students to graduate. For example let's try and fix the problems at MCAST. Maybe re-consider opening Trade Schools since those who can't make it to O Level standard can't be admitted to MCAST. A side note on stipends. They should be made possible to be used for public transport since it's one of the major expenses for students. Not fuel for their cars... thus promoting public transport as well :)
D Vella
Mar 23rd 2009, 16:39
Should not students once there studies are over, have to work in Malta for a number of years, or else pay for their education ,rather than emigrate as many do,to the detriment of a society who has paid for their education?.Isn't it right to give something back?.
John Grima
Mar 23rd 2009, 13:53
'an elitist form of education where only the privileged have complete access'. Surely this is not accurate as the incoming President of the Republic, Dr. George Abela, certainly does not hail from a privileged family. Lino Spiteri also falls into this category as does John Dalli. I could mention many many more others who like Dr. George Abela did not come from privileged families but have successfully worked their way through University and achieved the highest accolades in their field. I refrain from publishing their names in order to protect their privacy. The other thing that these gentlemen have in common is that they all hail from Qormi. Maybe it is something in the air over Qormi which makes its men so academically successful
Franco Farrugia
Mar 23rd 2009, 10:09
Well ... stipends are all very well ... but to those who deserve and need them.
Should there not be a means-test to check whether students hailing from more affluent families need them at all?