The Government spent €17 million on 2,000 scholarships in the past five years, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said during a meeting with young people in Paceville last night.

“We put our money where our mouth is. We invested in essential things such as education and a large part of the funds we recently got from the EU budget will go into scholarships and education,” he said.

Matthew Spiteri, a freelance designer who studied at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, praised what the college had to offer.

He hit out at Mcast students who, during a debate between the party leaders on Wednesday, booed Dr Gonzi.

“They said ‘shame on you’ but I tell you: thank you and shame on the students,” he said to loud applause.

Even Rebecca Spiteri, a law student, said she was “disgusted” and “disappointed” at the behaviour of students.

“It is the Labour Party that is creating a divide and they are saying shame on you.”

Ms Spiteri said it was ironic that Mcast students should behave in such a way, adding that “to condemn someone who created wealth is stupidity.”

Dr Gonzi said that Mr Spiteri was translating what he had learnt into a profession and was building up a career for himself. “I know there are students who are happy at Mcast. I know they are happy that we are building a new campus and they tell us: well done. So, don’t worry,” he said.

Another student, Maria Bezzina, said she was present for the debate and wanted to thank Dr Gonzi for what he gave to the country “as otherwise there won’t be Mcast and we won’t have stipends”.

Speaking on research and deve-lopment, Dr Gonzi said a Nationalist government would channel €100 million in EU and local funds to industry to continue developing and making factories more competitive.

In addition, “there will be funds for research initiatives, especially for the Life Sciences Centre, which is being built next to Mater Dei Hospital”.

The centre would offer a “critical mass” of research and development projects and would also be used by Ph.D students at the University, he said.

On March 9, there was “the risk that we will have a government that will make mistakes,” he said.

“We are lucky. We know the Labour Party will make a mistake and spend €600 million on a power station, which we don’t need and that doesn’t qualify for EU funds,” Dr Gonzi said.

After the meeting, Dr Gonzi went on a short walkabout in Paceville.