Matthew Xuereb
Church schools plan €20m expansion
Five Church schools are planning an ambitious extension programme, expected to cost about €20 million, which will see the number of students accepted each year growing by close to 2,200.
Four of the schools, which so far offer just secondary school level education, will be opening primary schools. Another school, which only offers primary education, will be building a secondary school in Għaxaq.
When contacted, the Archbishop's Delegate for Education, Fr Dominic Scerri, confirmed the expansion programme and explained that, through these projects, "the Church will continue in its mission of giving due importance to education in the life of man".
The Archbishop's Seminary and St Paul's Missionary College, both in Rabat, Savio College in Dingli and St Augustine's College in Pietà will start offering primary education as from the scholastic year started in September 2011. This will be spread over three years.
Tereża Nuzzo School, which has two kindergarten schools, one in Ħamrun and another in Żejtun and a primary school in Marsa, will soon start construction work on a new school in Għaxaq.
In conjunction with these projects, the Gozo Seminary and the Bishop's Conservatory, both in Victoria, and the Archbishop's Seminary and St Paul's Missionary College will be expanding their secondary level by adding a number of classrooms.
Fr Scerri said the projects would mean an extra 1,650 students at primary level and more than 500 in secondary level.
The total number of students attending Church schools, which stands at about 33 per cent of the total student population, is expected to shoot up to 44 per cent at the end of this three-year period.
He explained that, although the number of children was falling because of a drop in the birth-rate, the Church still received three applications for every vacant place. In 2008, the Church received over 3,000 applications for 1,000 vacant spaces. In 2007, a total of 3,328 children competed for 1,120 places in kindergarten, pre-grade and year-one classes and in the previous year 3,352 children competed for 1,145 places.
Fr Scerri said the projects would help the Church be in a better position to meet the demand.
The estimated construction costs range between €18 and €20 million.
Fr Scerri said the projects would be financed by the religious orders that manage the individual schools and by the Curia in Malta and that in Gozo. These would raise funds for their own project.
In line with the education reform, primary school pupils will no longer have to sit for the five highly-stressful secondary school entrance exams, as these will be replaced by three national exams. As from May 2011, the five common entrance and Junior Lyceum exams - Maltese, English, maths, social studies and religion - will be replaced by three exams: English, Maltese and maths. The exams will include an oral segment for the languages.
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Franco Farrugia
Jan 19th 2010, 21:12
I see no added value, having only Roman Catholic students in Catholic schools. On the contrary, when you have students hailing from different denominations, the probability is that all the students will be all the richer for the experience. It is nt healthy to have segregation, EVER!
G Ohayon
Jan 18th 2010, 22:21
@Mrs Falzon - how mistaken you are!! I used to go to a Roman Catholic school run by nuns and one of my friends attending the same school was Hindu. My husband is not Roman Catholic and he used to go to a Roman Catholic school where he was highly regarded and respected. What is wrong Mrs Falzon with non Catholic children attending Roman Catholic schools whatever their colour, race and religion? When did ever Jesus Christ exclude anyone?
Franco Farrugia
Jan 18th 2010, 21:36
@ A. Busuttil -
Church schools manage to expand in this manner because of: 1. very good management skills; 2. the Religious Orders to which they belong literally PUMP money into the coffers of said schools; 3. they also manage to borrow money from banks!
Church schools are a different entity from the Church as an institution in Malta, headed by the Archbishop's Curia. That is what you are mixing up in your muddled mind, eager as it is to downrate the Church and the schools in question.
Franco Farrugia
Jan 18th 2010, 20:43
@ Henry Calleja: 'Snobism'? 'Classy traditions'?? How wrong you are. Your comment shows how detached you are from the reality in which you supposedly live. Go and tell that to most of the parents of students NOW being taught in most of the Church schools in Malta and Gozo! Then, they will answer you in the way they know how. Most of the students now in Church schools hail from every strata of society and they are a far cry from the traditional cry that students in these schools are coming from elitist families. 'Best teachers'? Are you sure you know every qualification of every teacher in Church schools? And those in Government schools? And do you think that it's all a question of qualifications that make a teacher? If so, you need to revise your educatioal skills, my friend. I know of at least one teacher who started his teaching career in a Church school, on a very weak footing. Within a couple of years, he was the best teacher around! I am sorry that your mind is still warped in the times of govt schools vs church schools. It seems that for some, times never change.
A.Busuttil
Jan 18th 2010, 17:02
I was under the impresstion that they were loosing money, it seems after all its a good business. Thanks to the bad situation at state schools
Henry Calleja
Jan 18th 2010, 16:20
Although I have great respect for all Church and private schools I simply cannot understand how some Maltese people think. Whilst most of us moan about the high cost of living and that we cannot make both ends meet, many parents are spending thousands of euro each year for their children's education when the state offers education of high quality for free.The same goes for hospitalisation. We have such a state-of-the art hospital and many are still prefering private hospitals. Nowadays our state schools are modern, have the best trained teachers and compare favourably not only to church and private schools in Malta but also with foreign schools.Personally I think this all snobism and classy traditions.
Mrs. Falzon
Jan 18th 2010, 14:27
To enter into church schools one has to present the baptism certificate. So no, church schools are not open to non roman catholic entrants at least until now.
P.Cassar
Jan 18th 2010, 14:00
Of Course I agree with entrance exams being in Maths Maltese and English.
HOWEVER THIS MEANS THAT AFTER 20 YEARS OF REFORMS, CHANGES AND EXTREME PRESSURE ON STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS WE ARE BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED.
G Mizzi
Jan 18th 2010, 13:34
I am glad to hear about such an investment in our children. However, I am very concerned about the new school in Ghaxaq. I seriously hope, that this new school will not be built on virgin land (20,000sqm - not a joke) and green area like the one infront of triq il-Hareb. Another attempt has already been made to build the new St. Albert the Great School. Church, should lead by example and not try to use such arble odz land. I am afraid that with this rate, my daughter, will only be able to see some arble land just on television.
Dillon Bugeja
Jan 18th 2010, 13:28
Catholic schools must be constituted on a Catholic ethos, that highlights the faith that seeks to understand. If not, it will be a contradiction in terms!!
Being Catholic in a Catholic school is constitutive inclusive in the person that integrates everyone: Christ!!
Mario Camilleri
Jan 18th 2010, 12:36
Is Maths, English and Maltese far more important than Religion for church schools? Could this be the way forward to non Roman Catholic entrants? And if so, wouldn't this lead to the abolition of the crucifix from all classes? Simply asking!!
DVella
Jan 18th 2010, 12:21
Good now hopefully they will do away with that ridiculous and demeaning lottery system to select which children are admitted . . . . !
Sander Depasquale
Jan 18th 2010, 10:45
This is the way forward! The need for expansion of church schools has been there since 30 years ago. The role of the church should be to teach and try to install catholic values in our children...Prosit... a very good initiative!!!