With an investment of €1 million, students will be provided with free internet for another consecutive year for students in their first year of post-secondary studies.

Through this scheme, more than 3,300 students will enjoy free internet for a year. Such a measure will benefit students eligible for a stipend from government, independent and Church schools, Junior College and MCAST, economy minister Silvio Schembri said on Friday.

The aid will be granted in the form of vouchers which will be distributed electronically from today and can be redeemed starting Monday 7 February, valid until 15 July 2022.

The Minister stressed that since this initiative was also done last year, it means that in this legislature the government has invested over €2 million and reached more than 6,400 students and their families.

Education and Sports Minister Clifton Grima said this is the second year this measure has been implemented.

"This measure is further confirmation of the commitment of this government to encourage students to continue their studies after compulsory education," he said.

Grima referred to this year's budget and said that it once again introduced incentives to support students in the most delicate moment of their lives, when they are thinking about their future. These incentives include a 10% increase in stipends.

"With the initiative we are announcing today, we will be helping more than 3,000 families by reducing their internet service costs for a whole year, and so they will have more money left in their pockets. Moreover, the initiative for the second time shows the total commitment of the government to reach everyone, "stressed Minister Schembri.

Schembri added that Malta must continue with its efforts to accelerate the digital transformation of the economy. Today's initiative is an essential step in addressing these challenges, he said.

Students will receive a €300 free internet voucher via email, which has to be taken to one of the major internet service providers.

The money will be forwarded to the service provider immediately through a system designed by MIMCOL.

Students can choose any internet scheme offered for this value. The voucher can also be used to top up an active internet account that the student may already have.