3,328 applicants for 1,120 Church school places

Anxious parents yesterday gathered at the Curia, in Floriana, for the annual draw for places in Church schools.

A total of 3,328 children are competing for 1,120 places in kindergarten, pre-grade and year one classes.

The children for kindergarten were drawn yesterday. The Curia said 1,223 applied but only 333 places were available. Only 175 names were drawn. The rest of the available places will be taken up by 63 special cases, three children from Church homes and 92 children whose siblings attend Church schools.

Today's draw will be for the 332 pre-grade places, for which there are 1,068 applications. The names of year one students will be drawn tomorrow, with 1,068 applicants vying for 445 places.

The number of applicants for Church schools has gone down slightly compared with last year, when 3,352 applications were submitted. In 2002, 4,250 applications were made.