The KSU met Minister Galea at one of the series of meetings he is holding with all those involved in the education sector to discuss the Chalmers report, unveiled last Saturday. The report indicates the way forward in financing post-secondary and tertiary educational institutions.

After meeting heads of post-secondary and tertiary education institutions on Thursday, yesterday Dr Galea met student representatives in order to get their reaction to the report and hear their suggestions on the reforms required.

Dr Galea said that recently, post-secondary and tertiary institutions had received a boost because in the last five years, the number of 17-year-olds continuing their education has shot up from 43 per cent to 67 per cent. In the same period, he said, the number of 19-year-olds who are still being educated increased from 31 per cent to 44 per cent.

“This means that these institutions are catering for more people, both because of the government’s policy of investing in education and due to the change in mentality that education is important and that just basic education is not enough,” he said. KSU president Paul Gonzi said that even though a lot has been achieved over the years and considerable progress has been registered, government needs to invest more, and more has to be done to look after those who avail themselves of this investment in education.

He said that notwithstanding the amount being invested, Malta is still not far off from reaching the targets it has set. He also spoke about the problem in the increase in the drop-out rate.

Mr Gonzi mentioned the financial reform, adding that the KSU cannot agree with proposals which reduce the amount that students receive, making it more difficult for them to continue their education. He said the KSU was opposing any form of means-testing for tuition fees and the compromise of the maintenance grants system. The KSU, he said, echoes the Chalmers report in stating that the status quo is not an option.

Dr Galea is expected to meet various other student organisations in the near future, including those of Junior College, the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology, the Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary and the Institute for Tourism Studies as well as student organisations at various private and church sixth forms.