Students all around the globe face financial challenges and most do work part time to keep things afloat. The Gozo University Group, after lending an ear to a number of students, has noticed a growing concern regarding rent expenses.

Over the past years rent expenses have been increasing. This is a no-brainer since the supply is quite limited while the number of Gozitan students studying and living in Malta is on the increase, thus the prices will shift upwards.

The Gozo Ministry does offer support. In fact €400, three times per academic year, are handed out, but nevertheless this is no longer enough to meet the rent and transport costs. This grant is paid for the simple reason that Gozitan students who have to study in Malta end up living in Malta, and this will increase the financial burden of these students.

So we do believe that the grant should start to be adjusted with the cost-of-living mechanism. This will ease the burden not just on the students but also on those who financially support them at home.

Some may put forward the argument that we are asking for more money while we are not contributing to the economy. But one must not forget that every euro spent on a student is an investment. One may not reap the fruits today, but will do so in the near future. One must also note that the grant is all spent on rent and transport expenses, and none is saved.

Our land resources are very scarce. The remaining resource of these islands is the human resource. So we are bound to make sure that this scare resource is highly competitive compared to our counterparts. Educational investment will increase the quality of the human resource and it will make it easier to guarantee a near to sustainable welfare system.