I do not agree with the editorial that stated the reduction in stipends was made so that more important courses will be followed (TMID, 4 October).

This is an excuse so that things will not look so bad. I am not against the increased allowance for students from Gozo but to increase stipends for engineering students to Lm70 a month and reduce those for B.Com to Lm36 a month is a shame. Why reduce the stipend of one course just to persuade students to take another? This is discrimination.

I challenge anyone to tell me if they were in the shoes of these students who have had their stipends reduced whether they still agree with Dr Lawrence Gonzi and Minister for Education Dr Louis Galea.

Just a few days ago I was one of many celebrating Independence Day with my friends, waving the Nationalist Party flag. That was the last time because now I leave this to my fellow university students who have had an increase in their stipends, which is nearly twice mine, to raise their flags.

Needless to say all my family is shocked, especially with the Lm200 reduction of the students maintenance grant for first year students. All this is unjust, especially as I signed for a Lm54 stipend like many others and not Lm36. Where are our rights? Are we being treated like adults or like children?

What goes round comes around and this will affect the next election. We are not even allowed to speak for ourselves, thanks to the KSU, which after all is not affected by these changes. This is indeed a democratic country! What one orders is law and nothing can be said or done!

Shame on you all who have made these decisions. This will reduce access to tertiary education at a time when Malta has a lower rate than other European countries.

Malcolm Vella

NAXXAR