Kunsill Studenti Universitarji (KSU) said in a statement this evening that it has been in contact with the Minister for Education and Employment Evarist Bartolo and also with the Chairperson for the Students Maintenance Grant Board (SMGB), regarding the Smart Card Reform.

With this reform, the current Smart Card system will be removed and the same amount of credit usually allotted through this card, will be transferred directly to the students’ bank accounts.

The Council said the processes of the new system will be carried out electronically and therefore will facilitate the process for all students who are eligible for this grant.

KSU said that it acknowledges the benefits that the new system will bring, mainly including the flexibility for students when purchasing products which are needed for educational purposes, whilst also facilitating the process of buying products online since students will not need to go through the same tedious process to get a refund. “The new online electronic system will greatly decrease the human error factor, which usually slows the process down.”

Gozitan students will also benefit from such a reform because of the opportunity to use the given grant to purchase Gozo Ferry tickets and may also decrease the financial burden when paying the rent for their accommodation, KSU said.

The KSU Council said that it is also beneficial that the grant is given as a whole sum in the beginning of the scholastic year, as it is at that time that students need it most for relevant education material.

The Council is also satisfied that the new system will be saving a considerable amount of Government funds. “KSU recommends, as already stated during a meeting with the Chairperson of SMGB, that the equivalent sum of money should be reinvested in research within the University of Malta.”

On the other hand, KSU is concerned that the new system “lacks the checks-and-balances value, which ensures that money is used only for education purposes, which was the main aim behind the smart card at inception. Now, students can spend the given money on whatever they desire.”

KSU acknowledges that the system was abused in the past, however highlights that the Government should attempt to narrow opportunities for further abuses. “Although it remains encouraging that the Government is seeing such responsibility in today’s students, the Government should work hard to strengthen the mentality, that money is not given for any reason, and on the contrary is an investment, for which the student should give something in return,” the Union said.

After discussing the issue during an Education Commission meeting, a structure within KSU made up of all student representatives coming from the different faculties, institutes and Centres, KSU notes that the new system will remove the usual bureaucratic process of applying, and also increase the variety of services in which the student spends the money on.

However, the Council said that it would like to clarify what monitoring is going to be used by Government to ascertain that the fund is used strictly for educational material and that the new system reflects that it is an investment in the interest of education and the student.

KSU urges the students “to use the money given in a responsible manner and for educational aims.”

KSU concluded by saying that it encourages the students to remain active in extracurricular activities, earlier refundable via Smart Card, to continue strengthening the student body.

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