The development of the worker-student scheme in Malta

Abstract

In the first chapter the historical development of the Worker-Student Scheme concept is traced back to 1972: the factors which led to the introduction of the Worker-Student Scheme, the initiators and supporting groups, resistance and opposition, together with the development of the Scheme after its introduction in 1978, are exposed chronologically up to 1981. The second chapter is an assessment of the Worker-Student Scheme, in the light of the set main objectives; this is done with the aid of a questionnaire distributed to University students. Although as in other countries social discrimination in the access to University still exists in Malta, the Worker-Student Scheme has acted against these discriminations, in the sense that students from lower social classes benefitted more than others through the Worker-Student Scheme, by being helped to gain access to University. University students feel that they have become to a large extent, financially independent. Prospects for employment are immediately available at the end of their course. Students feel that the main problem of the Worker-Student Scheme is the distribution of time allotted for study.