The Ministry of Education reiterated this afternoon that students' stipends would not be reduced.

It also accused students' organisation Pulse of having misinterpreted comments given by the Minister of Education in reply to a parliamentary question.

Pulse had called on the government to discuss any changes it plans to make to the stipends system with all interested sectors, particularly the students.

It said that comments made by Education Minister Dolores Cristina in parliament had added fuel to the uncertainty instilled by previous comments, notably those by the Governor of the Central Bank.

In her reply, to a parliamentary question by Owen Bonnici, about whether the government was planning changes, the minister said that the system how the University of Malta was funded was being reviewed this year.

“It might be the case that as part of the revision, the authorities will consider different models, and one cannot exclude a revision of the way stipends are given to the students,” the minister said.

This, she added, did not, in any way, mean that the students would be given less than what they were being given today.

Pulse said this was not the first time that reforms were proposed to this system. Way back in March 2009, the Government confirmed that it was looking into different ways of revising the present system.

At that time, Mrs Cristina said that the government planned to find “creative solutions” to reform stipends. Uncertainty continued to mount following comments by the Governor of the Central Bank of Malta who considered the current stipends system as unsustainable.

“Pulse believes that in the present scenario, the Education Minister ought to discuss the Government’s plans for reform with all stakeholders, especially the students. Furthermore, efforts should be directed to improve the current system rather than experimenting with reforms behind the students’ backs,” it added.

In its statement this afternoon, the ministry made no mention of any changes planned for the stipends system but stressed that stipends would not be reduced. It said that more students were enjoying the stipends and the government was raising its investment in the students.

The government’s outlay on stipends will be €23 million this year.

The ministry pointed out that the government was also offering scholarships and 1,000 students had benefited so far.

The ministry said that Mrs Cristina in the reply to the parliamentary question had been clear that stipends would not be reduced. She said that where the funding of the university was concerned, one could look at various models.

The ministry said it was a Labour government which had reduced stipends by changing the system and forcing the students to borrow from the banks. The system was changed again after the government was replaced.