These are the main targets the government will be pursuing according to the minister, who was opening a seminar organised by the university group Insite. Dr Galea said that today there are 3,500 full-time and 1,000 part-time students attending the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, while the number of students at university has now almost reached the 10,000 mark.

These include 750 foreign students from 80 countries.

There are also 3,000 students at the Junior College apart from hundreds in other institutions.

Dr Galea said the government will strive to keep the university and Mcast doors open to everybody and ensure that the quality of education and training is continuously upgraded.

At present, the terms of reference of a Commission for Higher Education were being finalised so that, once established, the commission will help the government monitor itself and plan its strategy.

“We want to maximise the use of our resources and take advantage of the opportunities that will be provided when Malta joins the European Union,” Dr Galea said.

He added that the students will be involved in all the discussions that are taking place about their future, including their stipends. “Anyone who, at this early stage, is making a partisan campaign is being harmful rather than beneficial to the debate,” he said.

Dr Galea said that when the group, led by Roderick Chalmers, presents its report, this will be passed to the Opposition to be followed up with a discussion in the Social Affairs Parliamentary Committee and the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.