Updates with more details and PN statement

Students sitting for an O’level course at Naxxar Higher Secondary and the Gozo sixth form have received a letter informing them that, as from this year they will not receive a stipend. But the Education Ministry has insisted that this decision was taken behind the Minister’s back and has been revoked.

Following media reports, photos of the letters sent to students started circulating on Facebook. One such photo shows a letter sent by the Head of School of Sir Michelangelo Refalo sixth form in Gozo. The letter is addressed to students who are taking the O’level revision course, and advises them that, “as from this year they will no longer receive a stipend.”

Sections of the media also published a letter sent by the Maintenance Grants Section of the Education Ministry, which said that "as from this year students following a SEC/'O' level revision course are no longer entitled to a stipend and smart card." In the letter, the Maintenance Grants Section said that it was informed about this by Mr Toni Briguglio, Chairperson of the Maintenance Grants Board

Ministry statement

In a statement, the Education ministry said that this decision was taken behind its back, and without political approval. The decision was revoked as soon as the Minister was informed.

The Ministry said that it never authorized, or was asked to authorize a reduction or removal of stipends for any students in any school.  An investigation has been launched to determine who sent out the unauthorized letters. The government has a mandate to strengthen stipends, the ministry said. 

PN statement

The Nationalist Party noted that Minister Bartolo today was caught trying to stop stipends for students who are following ‘O’ level courses in post-secondary. Faced by the reaction, Mr Bartolo withdrew the decision, spokesman Joe Cassar said, adding that this is the second time in his poitical career that Mr Bartolo tried to reduce stipends.

Now that he has been caught in the act, Mr Bartolo is blaming the public service, and this when it is clear that the person who authorised the circular was the chairman of the Maintenance Grants Board, who Dr Cassar said is a political appointee.

It is clear that when the government is caught manoeuvring behind the people’s backs, it then blames the public service, a strategy that the PN said is unacceptable.