A number of students attending the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology will be receiving their stipends backdated to October, 2006 following the intervention of Education Minister Louis Galea.

The students had started a course at MCAST but were not being given stipends as it was still to be established whether they were repeating a year. Dr Galea requested the Students Maintenance Grants Board to re-examine their applications.

Where it was found that the students were repeating the same course after failing in the previous academic year, the stipends were withheld according to regulations. But students who started a new course are to be granted their stipends, backdated to October. The board had already given the Smart Card (Lm100) when they joined the course.

The Education Ministry said the board had accepted 450 claims submitted by students attending courses at MCAST, the Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary and the Junior College. The amount due will be given to the students next month.