History has taught us that revolutions in a number of countries were initiated by University students. Some brought about a major overhaul in the political system of their country; others led to political leaders being deposed. In Malta, too, in the past, University students were involved in political protests that were, in their own way, quite effective.

These days, however, one gets to hear about University students when they protest about the stipends system and parking places. That is, matters that concern their way of life, and only their way of life. Nothing more, nothing less.

Now, University students have every right to protest about matters that affect them directly, and nobody is trying to deny them this right. But then, when it comes to other matters that have a bigger bearing on the nation, University students are quite conspicuous by their absence.

And so the question that comes to mind is whether Malta’s students are really interested in what is happening outside their campus, and whether they do follow what is happening on a national basis and outside our shores too.

Are Maltese University students bothered with national and international affairs, or do they simply speak up only when there is talk about possible changes to the stipends system or when their parking spaces are being taken up?

The fact that Maltese University students are paid to study already makes them different from other, foreign University students. The stipends system makes it possible for all young people from all walks of life to have the possibility to further their studies – and we all know how important human resources are for this country – but at the same time our younger generations are in a way being pampered.

While, abroad, University students have to leave their homes and families, and many have to find jobs to sustain their accommodation and food, not to mention their tuition, here most students continue living with their parents and receive a stipend for attending a course. Yes, many local university students do find the odd part-time job to earn some extra money, but certainly not to finance their education. It must be admitted that the life of a university student here is much easier than that of their foreign counterparts.

So much easier that most Maltese university students have their own car, and the fact that the number of students attending university grows every year does bring about logistic problems that are not easy to sort out – such as the limited spaces as to where students can leave their vehicles.

Again, we emphasise that students have the right to protest when they think that their rights are being undermined. We are not contesting the stipends system and we are not hinting that this should be removed. Neither are we saying that students should not have cars.

But at the same time it is felt that the students should show greater interest in other matters that are of far greater importance than parking spaces. When taxpayers who are, after all, providing the money for the stipends, hear students complain about parking places – and nothing else – it does give them the feeling that the students do not appreciate what they have.

Perhaps they do not know that, up to two decades ago, only a few hundred students could make it to university because that was the system in those days. Perhaps they do not know that the number of courses that opened was just a handful, and not all were available every year.

University students should continue to speak up about stipends and parking spaces as much they like, but there are other topics that should be grabbing their attention and on which they should voice an opinion.