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Kurt Sansone
The list of people awarded a Chevening Scholarship is an interesting insight into the who’s who of Malta’s high society, but the British High Commission is set to change the current situation whereby a majority of students benefiting from the bursary hail from influential families.
Reacting to an opinion article penned by MaltaToday columnist Anna Mallia last Sunday, British High Commissioner Nick Archer admits that the British Council does not get applicants from “a wide enough range of backgrounds” for the Chevening Scholarships.
Mallia had expressed her concern at the trend that seems to have developed over recent years in the award of Chevening Scholarships to students hailing from well-connected, influential and political families. Mallia questioned whether the scholarships awarded by the British Council were simply “intended for the children of the Maltese elite and of Maltese politicians.”
This year’s recipients included the Prime Minister’s son Paul Gonzi; David Grech, son of Middlesea chairman Mario Grech; Clara Borg, daughter of EU Commissioner Joe Borg; Kurt Hyzler, a nephew of former MP George Hyzler; Nick Trapani Galea Feriol, son of the Baron of San Marciano and Sylvia Gasan; David Zahra, the son of National Euro Changeover Committee chairman Joseph FX Zahra; and Angelica Camilleri de Marco, granddaughter of President of the Republic Guido de Marco.
Writing to MaltaToday (see letters 22), the British High Commissioner says he disagrees with much of what Mallia said but admits that she did identify a problem which the High Commission would like to fix.
“We don’t get applicants from a wide enough range of backgrounds. Anna’s not the only scholar we’ve had from ‘a working class family with no political affiliations’, but we will have more if they’re not discouraged from applying,” Archer says.
The British High Commissioner also undertakes to change the current situation by appointing an independent outsider to sit on the selection panel and publicising the scholarships’ principle that they are available to everybody.
“I’m doing two things to change that: First by getting an independent outsider to sit on the selection panel and second, letting people know that where they come from doesn’t matter. Parents and teachers reading this should never tell students ‘oh, you won’t have a Chevening, they’re not for people like you’. Encourage your bright young people to apply,” Archer says.
The High Commissioner says that he has yet to award any Chevening Scholarships, given his relatively new appointment. “As I gear up for my first year, next year, it’s useful to know what people are saying about the scheme – not just its many supports, but also any sceptics,” Archer says about Mallia’s criticism.
Asked to comment about Nick Archer’s response, Anna Mallia says it is positive that the current British High Commissioner is going to change things hopefully regaining trust in the Chevening Scholarships.
“The proposal to get an independent outsider to sit on the selection panel is very welcome, especially since I am informed that no interviews were held to select the prospective Chevening scholars for this year,” Mallia says.
The lawyer, herself a Chevening beneficiary in 1989, insists that the British High Commissioner must send a clear message that the scholarships are there for everyone to apply. “This year’s experience where the winners of the scholarships all came from powerful and influential families must not be repeated,” Mallia says.
ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt
www.maltatoday.com.mt/2006/09/10/opinion4.html
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