Updated | Stipends’ board chairperson’s resignation accepted by education minister

The education minister has accepted the chairman of the Students Maintenance Grants Board's resignation, the government has said.

Tonio Briguglio resigned in the wake of the circulation of a controversial notice, later withdrawn, informing students in post-secondary schools that they were not eligible for stipends.

The circular was later withdrawn after the government said it was issued without the minister's approval.

Earlier this month, a report on the circulation of the notice without ministerial approval has been delivered to the education minister, Evarist Bartolo.

The report concluded that the Stipends Board decided to stop stipends for students following revision 'O' level courses, without the minister's consent.

Briguglio, who the report said took the decision singlehandedly, shouldered his responsibility and tendered his resignation, however, the report also highlighted legal shortcomings in the legal notice covering the stipends.

In a statement issued today, the government said that the minister has accepted the resignation of Tonio Briguglio and explained that Diane D'Alessandro is taking over as acting chairperson.

"Minister Bartolo stressed that government policy was to strengthen stipends and the government's position has remained consistent throughout," the statement added.

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Opposition spokesperson for education Joe Cassar accused the Labour government of having used a politically-appointed board of inquiry, which included the father of Labour MP Chris Fearne, and two consultants within the education ministry, to make Briguglio a scapegoat for the government's shortcomings.

"It's not an independent board... its own conclusions make political observations that should not be in a report that should have been technical and impartial. It makes a reference to the Labour electoral programme, which betrays its own political agenda."

Briguglio was appointed chairman of the stipends board by Evarist Bartolo after March 2013. Cassar said that this meant that it was Bartolo who was politically responsible for the shortcomings identified in the report.