Irked students awaiting scholarships are questioning the government’s claim that the outcome is currently in the “appeals stage” in light of the fact that the results have yet to be published.

Several students who spoke to Times of Malta expressed their frustration that while they were still waiting to find out whether they were awarded the scholarship, the government’s official reply was that the appeals process was still ongoing.

“This is ridiculous. How can the government say that there is an appeals process when we do not even have the results in hand,” an angry student told the Times of Malta.

He explained that while he had started his course, he had yet to pay his fees as he was waiting for the outcome of the scholarship application, saying that as a result the future of his studies remained unclear despite the course starting last year.

“How can you appeal if you don’t have a position which you can appeal? In the meantime, students are forking out or going into debts of tens of thousands of euros to further their education for themselves and ultimately their country,” another applicant told this newspaper.

Apart from course fees, the scholarships offered under the Tertiary Education Scholarship Scheme (TESS) also offers “additional allowances”, including grants for those studying abroad, students having children as well as those who are married or who have a disability.

No reply from the Education Ministry was forthcoming when Times of Malta asked for information on the so-called “appeals stage” and whether students were the ones expected to appeal even though they had yet to receive the results.

Students who tried to contact the government’s scholarships unit said they were told in December the results would be announced “in the coming days” but no additional information was given.

Others were simply not provided with any information and have been met with closed doors whenever they tried to ask about the delay.

According to the government website, the scheme is aimed at supporting “quality tertiary education” from MQF Level 7 (Master’s degree) upwards and “to seek to contribute towards the Maltese labour market with the right skilled individuals”.