A circular issued on the removal of stipends, dated the 1st of October, had been issued without approval, the Ministry for Education said today and had been withdrawn immediately the Ministry had been alerted to it.
The Ministry said that it never authorised, or was requested to authorise, the reduction or elimination of stipends at the Higher Secondary and the the Sixth Form in Gozo, The same applies to those students who are pursuing a course at MCAST, Junior College or Higher Secondary.
This, the Ministry said, applies to any educational institution where students receive a stipend. An investigation has been launched to assertain why this circular had been issued.
The Government’s policy and electoral mandate was to strengthen stipends, the Ministry concluded.