About a month ago, ministries were told to cut budgets by €200 million so that the government can keep subsidising energy costs, as fuel prices rise across Europe due to sanctions and the war in Ukraine. 

While the government has little control over all of this, it is difficult to understand why those in power think that the nation’s education budget should be what must make up for this deficit. 

No matter what the situation is, austerity has been shown to fail over and over again, making life harder for the working class without improving the economy.

Any government investment in education should not be viewed as a favour to students or the working class but as an investment in the society of the future.

The Minister of Finance has stated the government’s intentions outright by saying, “We will do whatever it takes so that such challenges continue to be faced by the government, rather than businesses.” 

Given that it is very unlikely that any MPs will be taking any salary cuts, any challenges faced by the government will actually be faced by the working class in the form of programme budget cuts, cost cutting, and a lack of cost-of-living aid. 

This is a direct contradiction to another statement he made saying that, “this is not the time for austerity for our people.”

 During an economic boom, capitalists always prosper and profit, so why should capitalists be protected by the government so that they can continue to prosper and profit at the expense of the working class during a recession?

As expressed by the University Rector Professor Alfred Vella in his leaked email to Deans, Directors, and Heads of Departments, he points out that a 1% budget cut is very significant. 

He continues to explain that if next year the budget is not raised, something he worries is likely, the effective budget cut will be between €3 to €5 million due to inflation. 

This austerity will cause Malta’s leading university to have to delay research projects, the release of new courses, and investment into more modern infrastructure. It will also cause the university to have to prioritise projects that are profitable rather than the projects that will most benefit society in order to be able to function. 

This budget cut directly contradicts the Labour party’s electoral pledge that research funding will reach 2% of national GDP, a pledge that should have been reached in 2020 according to the Europe 2020 strategy, but which is currently only at 0.6% of national GDP.

Education should be a right of every person. Rather than trying to lower the University of Malta’s budget, an institution that is already struggling with funding, the government should perhaps do some self-reflection and look at any inefficiencies in government that are not giving the Maltese people their money’s worth.

It could also enforce tax regulations that, as has been reported in the media numerous times, are often being skirted by businesses and businesspersons, sometimes with the approval of the Maltese government, as was the case with the Polidano group.

These budget cuts come roughly a week after Junior College announced the introduction of a 4-year sixth form course to accommodate students who must balance providing for their families and their education. 

While it is always welcome to see that education is being made more accessible, this is not solving the underlying issue. Why must young people have to face the dilemma of furthering their education and having to be the primary breadwinners for their families?

The fundamental problem with these issues is our economic system. Capitalism relies on the exploitation of the working class and the profit incentive and no number of reforms will be able to go around this. 

Education should never have to rely on a profit incentive and must be fully funded by society. And in turn, educational institutions should focus on projects that would benefit society the most. 

During this time of rising cost of living, the priorities of those in power are made clear, and thus, we the working class must show them our priorities clearly too. 

This news has unfortunately been met with very little resistance, and this is something that must change. 

Students, lecturers and university staff must unionise, organise and stand up to those in power, so that profit is never prioritised over education or the people.

Gabriel Apap is a member of Moviment Graffitti

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