Moviment Graffitti said it played a major role in the 1997 protests against the introduction of a new stipend system based on loans. It had also presented proposals as to how the stipend system could be reformed to the benefit of students.

“Certain proposals – such as the introduction of grants for books and educational equipment, and the need to grant additional stipends to students coming from families that face economic difficulties – form part of the current system,” a spokesman said.

Moviment Graffitti said that while it agreed that courses that reflect the country’s social and economic needs, and that are characterised by an insufficient number of students, should introduce incentives to attract students, it absolutely disagree that courses that are not deemed to form part of “the country’s economic needs” should be hit by cuts in stipends.

“This would risk transforming the university into a strictly ‘functional’ and ‘utilitarian’ institution which discourages courses that encourage critical thinking.

“The University would risk becoming an intellectual cemetery,” said Moviment Graffitti. It believed that a reduction in public expenditure on education, including stipends, could be detrimental to society, especially considering that the percentage of students who continued their studies at a post secondary level is one of the lowest in the EU, as is Malta’s literacy rate.

Moviment Graffitti believes that schemes that further encourage participation of students in post-secondary education (including technical and vocational education) should be introduced. “On completion of their studies, many students are facing economic difficulties, including the massive increases in property prices. The introduction of loans to replace stipends, even partially, will be an added strain on students and will therefore negatively affect their quality of life.

“This will also further discourage students from less privileged backgrounds to continue their studies,” the movement said.