Private schools free for all?

Everyone should be given the choice to send their children to private schools, according to architect Alex Torpiano who was very active in the late 1980s to get parent-run schools off the ground.

The news that independent schools were asking the government to give aid to parents so the schools do not close down prompted many negative reactions from those who felt rich people were asking for subsidies.

But Mr Torpiano believes there could be a system which benefits everyone if the government were to work out how much it costs to educate a child in state schools and give all parents a voucher to that amount to use in any type of school they want.

“I believe in the right to free education and the right to choose where to educate my children,” Mr Torpiano argued, adding that the Maltese were too conditioned into believing that their children’s education should lie in the hands of the Church or the state. “Why not have parents or private education experts decide on how to educate our children?”

He said the whole point of this exercise – which has already been implemented in Sweden and the Netherlands and is being discussed in the UK – was not to help rich people who can afford private education anyway but to give poorer people the choice.

“This is the opposite of elitism. What I am saying is that we should have a right to choose to educate our children in a state school, a Church school or a private school. Then the market will decide. The question is: If you could afford any type of schooling, which would you choose?”

He was quick to point out that some private schools are not-for-profit, so the argument that this was just a way to help them make money “is fake”. However, he recognises that other schools are run like a business and he finds no problem with that.

“Many independent schools manage to charge a fee to parents considerably lower than what it costs the government to educate each child. Some are so efficient they manage to turn a profit. What is wrong with that?”

He says parents of children in independent schools have to pay twice for education: in the form of taxes and again in the form of fees. “So my taxes go to a Church school, which is competing with the school I want for my kids. I think this would go against EU laws in fact.”

The voucher system is just an extension of the tax credits initiative that already exists. Parents who send their children to independent schools get some of their taxes back because they are relieving the state and not using a service they pay taxes for.

“If you agree with this principle, that children should have the right to free education and a choice of schools, then this is the next step.”

His proposal is not the same as that being made by the Independent Schools Association, which is so far only suggesting a partial voucher to make schools more affordable.

He agrees with critics that if the discount is too small it would simply make life easier for the people who can already afford schooling. But if it is substantial enough to make it really affordable it would be fair all round because everyone would benefit.

Private schools, he says, are pioneers who introduced many innovations that eventually found their way to state schools. And without independent schools, there would be no incentive to change the status quo.

The issue sparked a heated debate on timesofmalta.com were many negative reactions were registered.

Lawyer Lynn Zahra accused parents who send their children to independent schools of being “snobs who turn their noses at the thought of their children mixing with those of commoners”.

Labour education spokesman Evarist Bartolo said the party “cares” for the 7,000 children in independent schools and was committed to make their education affordable.

He pointed out that the ISA had not yet given the party a copy of the report that is now the basis for the schools’ request for assistance and which the party had promised it was willing to discuss.