Danica Caruana, aged 22, law

Stipends make good for some of the expenses we incur as part of our studies and alleviate the burden for families, not all of whom can afford to support one or more full-time students.

I spend most of my stipend on expenses on things directly related to my course, such as books and photocopies. However, it also serves to alleviate other burdens like transport costs.

In the long run, the burden on the taxpayer will surely be felt as student numbers increase every year.

But stipends are an investment in the workforce of tomorrow. Having more students in University, MCAST and ITS will eventually result in more graduate workers, generate more value added jobs, and result in more taxes being collected.

‘Spending millions on stipends is not the way to go’

Philip Leone Ganado, aged 22, diplomatic studies

It is refreshing for the government to continue investing in education when European students are protesting against funding cuts and increasing fees, but I don’t believe spending millions on stipends is the way to go.

The money tends to vanish on food, alcohol, fuel, bus fares and other expenses incurred by all young people, not just students.

Many students want better facilities, higher quality lectures, but funding is being wasted on providing stipends to each and every student, many of whom simply do not require it.

Nobody should miss out on higher education because they don’t have the means but €80 a month is far too little for anyone who needs financial support, and far too much for those who don’t. The system should be replaced by means-tested bursary awards for students whose financial background is genuinely prohibitive to their studies.