Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/352862
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 27 JULY 2014 3 News University smart card system no more: maintenance grants to go directly into accounts MIRIAM DALLI A revamp of the students' mainte- nance grant system will see the re- moval of the smart card system and money will instead be deposited di- rectly into students' bank accounts. According to Education Minister Evarist Bartolo, the measure will be saving the government an annual €175,000 in administrative costs. The new system will be introduced in the next scholastic year. "The Auditor General had flagged the ineffectiveness of the smart card system in the sense that the costs in administering the scheme could be outweighing the benefits derived," Bartolo said. He added that the new system would simplify the students' life even in terms of applying for the grant – now through an e-form – and in refunds for educational ma- terial purchased online. Bartolo added that the govern- ment has yet to collect over half a million euros in overpayments – monies that have been accumulat- ing since 2001. "Although the government is au- thorised by law to collect these mon- ies, the law was never enforced," Bartolo said. The government's plan is to start enforcing the law in the case a stu- dent drops out of University mid- way. The government will collect back those monies owed by the stu dent, calculated on when the stu- dent dropped out of University. The Education Minister added that students were already spend- ing their grant in non-related edu- cational matter and, in this way, students would learn how to be re- sponsible with their money. KSU president Gayle Lynn Callus welcomed the reform but called on the government to ensure checks and balances are in place on how the students spend their grant. "It is positive that the amount given to students remained untouched but we also encourage the government to implement the necessary checks and balances. At the end of the day, this is taxpayers' money," Callus told MaltaToday. Callus acknowledged that students abused the system: "We know there were abuses and the government should not allow space for further abuses." As an idea, Callus said students could present receipts showing that the money was indeed spent on educational purposes, adding that such a system was adopted with re- funds. "We also encourage students to be responsible in how they use their grant," he added. The student smart card was origi- nally meant to help with costs for educational material but over the years students have been able to purchase anything – including sportswear, footwear and eyewear. The running of the system has to date cost the country over €2 mil- lion – a sum that covers only the handling fee the government pays APCO Ltd, the company which or- ganises the smart card system. It excludes salaries and costs related to human resources deployed by the government at the University of Malta and other departments to run the system. The contractor receives almost 2% of the purchase value of items bought with the smart card. Between 2009 and 2012, the government allocated over €87.5 million in stipends. Maintenance grants make up ap- proximately 40% of this allocation, which means that some €35 million were put in smart cards for students' consumption. With a 1.9% company charge to suppliers, the contractor is esti- mated to have raked in €665,000 in three years just from the purchases students made. Students enrolled in diploma cours- es receive a sum of €465.87 per aca- demic year. "General" degree course students receive a one-time grant of €465.87, and a sum of €465.87 per academic year, while "prescribed" degree course students receive a one-time grant of €698.81, and a sum of €698.81 per academic year. x University students' council president says checks-and-balances system required Injured Libyans brought to Malta Education minister Evarist Bartolo has announced a revamp of the €28 million Student Maintenance Grants system for post-secondary and tertiary education students, in a bid to save some €175,000 in annual administrative costs by chanelling the money directly into students' bank accounts Maltese in Libya advised to find commercial flight out of country TWO injured Libyans and a relative were brought to Malta for medical treatment, Mal- taToday has learned. The aircraft carrying the Libyans landed at 11pm at the Malta Inter- national Airport where two ambulances were waiting their arrival. The patients, believed to be suffering from gunshot wounds, were transferred to Mater Dei Hospital. It is unclear whether the Libyans were injured during the unrest raging in the country. The injuries are not believed to be life threatening. The Maltese government has meanwhile ad- vised Maltese nationals in Libya to find com- mercial flights to leave the country. A govern- ment spokesman said this was being done in conformity with what the UK and France are doing. "In the light of the escalating situation in Lib- ya, the government is renewing its travel advi- sory against flying to Libya, and urging those Maltese still in Libya to leave the country," the government said yesterday. The government said it had been in contact with all Maltese nationals in Libya and that it had organised commercial flights out of the country. "These initiatives will continue. The foreign ministry is in constant contact with Maltese nationals in Libya. Those who are still there are doing so out of their own choice." A commercial Libyan Airline flight landed in Malta last night with 155 passengers. It is not known whether any Maltese were aboard the flight. 117 Maltese nationals have chosen to remain in Libya so far. PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD