Friday 29 March 2024

Don’t you touch my stipend!

It’s that time of year again. When the first hints of summer start struggling to break through the cold dampness of our homes, and we can peel off a layer or ten.

It’s also the time of year when university students are busy cramming away to pass their end of year exams, while looking forward to a few months of partying all night, and sleeping away most of the day, only staggering out of their bed to check Facebook and perhaps making a slight effort to roll down to the beach where they can sleep some more.

OK, I am deliberately generalizing.

I do realize that there are students out there who actually make good use of the summer months to get a part-time job and earn some money.  So, if you fall into this category, this article is not directed at you, and you can stop reading.

The thing is, every time I read about the way politicians continue to fear “touching the stipend”, I get this vivid image in my mind of hundreds of very laid-back students cruising their way through their university years, cashing in their monthly stipend, and living off the generosity of their parents, without even the slightest inclination to work.

Like most great ideas, the stipend system started off very well, and opened the way for many young people from low income and even middle class families to continue with their studies, because the stipend helped to cover a lot of their educational expenses.  Financially-strapped parents who, in the pre-stipend days, would have encouraged their 18-year-old children to “get a job”, began to encourage them to keep studying instead. The future Malta looked bright, with the number of graduates increasing each year, and employees looking forward to having the best brains to choose from when interviewing candidates.

But from what I can see, the reality has given us a different scenario altogether. I have lost count of the number of parents I meet who tell me that their grown up sons (and it is mostly sons), “don’t want to do anything”.  They have no ambition, no desire to work, no plans for the future, nothing.

I have lost count of the number of employers who shake their head the minute you mention graduates, pointing out that the standard of both English and Maltese is atrocious and that many of these “bright, young things” have absolutely no clue when it comes to the working world.

I have lost count of the endless debates over the “parking wars” on campus, where students are regularly upset because lecturers have reserved parking and they have no where to park their cars. Truly, onlyinmalta.com.

In an ideal world, of course, there would be enough money to continue subsidising the stipend system forever, and everyone would be happy and content. But the harsh, cold truth is that the money is running out.  And even if the funds were not running out, I think the present stipend system should be completely re-considered anyway.  Frankly, while it might have helped push up the numbers in tertiary education, and granted some relief to parents on the financial front, the stipend has also contributed to a lackadaisical attitude towards life among many 20-somethings.

It doesn’t help matters that, apart from being paid to study, many young people also continue to live at home, with a fully stocked fridge, dinner always on the table and clean, ironed clothes courtesy of Mummy until they get married. But that’s another article.

The problem is that the stipend, while making it possible for everyone to go to university, has also contributed towards prolonging dependency and perpetuating a lack of responsibility. The result is a certain air of entitlement among many students; some of them act like they should be given a pat on the back every morning for the fact that they deign to wake up and attend lectures.  Getting a handout (for it is a handout) does nothing to help develop one’s sense of independence, but merely reinforces the belief that the State has this huge vault of cash from which everyone can grab a fist of Euros whenever they please.

But it is now becoming painstakingly clear that Malta’€™s vault is running on empty. The latest document by the Today Public Policy Institute has urged a revamp of the stipends system and a similar statement was made by the University Rector Juanito Camilleri himself not too long ago.

Of course, the problem is that “touching the stipend” is like committing Hara-Kari for any political party, because of the fear of losing the crucial youth vote.

I happen to think that the best solution was the one made by then Education Minister Evarist Bartolo during the Sant administration who wanted to turn the stipend into a grant, but we all know the uproar which that caused. It’s a shame, too, because it made sense. Why not ask students to pay back at least part of the stipend when they start working? What’s wrong with that? What’s the problem with teaching students a valuable lesson that there’s no such thing as a free lunch and everything comes at a price? I really wish someone could point out why this is so terrible, and if they do manage to convince me that it has any negative repercussions I will take back what I said.

For, in reality, there is dignity and self-respect in being able to pay back a loan. If students (and their parents) were made to realize that the investment which the State is making in education through the stipend system, is a loan, it can go a long way towards halting the present apathy and sheer boredom I see in the eyes of so many of today’s young people.  I think they’re bored because they know that no matter what, someone will pick up the slack and they can continue coasting through life.

Sure, youth is meant to be enjoyed, and the freedom and lack of responsibility before reaching adulthood is an important stage in one’s life. But I also believe in instilling a sense of a strong work ethic in teenagers, because it will be the best asset they can carry with them throughout life – even more valuable than a string of ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels, or even a string of degrees.

After all, a little work never hurt anyone. So, if any university students are still reading this and haven’t already started burning my effigy on campus, take my advice and go find yourself a part-time summer job.

It will still leave you plenty of time for the beach and partying and enjoying the freedom of being young and carefree, but you will still respect yourself in the morning.

 

 

 

 

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