The Students’ Maintenance Grants’ Board
The Students’ Maintenance Grants’ Board (SMGB) comprises nine members,
who are appointed annually by the Hon. Minister for Education and Employment.
Dr Romina Cuschieri Chairperson
Mr Charles Cilia Secretary
Mr Godfrey Testa MEDE Ministry’s Representative
Mr Josef Buttigieg MCAST Representative
Mr Victor Grech MFIN Representative
Dr. Ing. Chris Micallef Jobsplus Representative
Ms Romina Sammut UOM Rector’s Office Representative
Mr Ahmed Lamlum KSM Representative
Mr Matthew Xuereb KSU Representative
Duties and Procedures
The Students’ Maintenance Grants’ Board’s main functions are to:
a. oversee the effective allocation and payments of Students’ Maintenance
Grants to students;
b. offer guidelines and regularly
review procedures in the management and implementation of all the stages
leading up to payments of Students’ Maintenance Grants to students;
c. oversee the effective assessment, review and payment of Supplementary Allowances to eligible students;
d. manage, assess and implement any
other scheme which the Hon. Minister for Education and Employment may launch
from time to time;
e. process reports submitted from
educational institutions and apply any sanctions when necessary;
f. oversee the management of
payments and take action to recover any overpaid Students’ Maintenance Grants;
g. recommend changes to
already-existing policies to improve the support the student receives.
The Board is responsible for the issuing of guidelines for sui generis cases and memos regarding
procedures which need to be followed.
Board Meetings
Board meetings are held monthly and are minuted. Minutes are duly signed by the Chairperson
and by the Secretary of the Board. Due
to the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), updated minutes of each
Board Meeting cannot be published, but they are kept for reference at the
Students’ Maintenance Grants’ Office.
The Students’ Maintenance Grants’ Board works in liaison with the Students’
Maintenance Grants’ Office, where all communication and correspondence is
received and processed.
The Students’ Maintenance Grants’ Board has always strived to implement
initiatives to simplify and enhance the students' experience when applying for
Students’ Maintenance Grants.
Decisions are communicated in writing to the student via post and to the
respective Stipends' Office.