Private schools and families who send their children there will benefit from a series of measures following a similar boost last year.
“We recognise that private schools are giving a strong and important contribution to the education sector,” Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said yesterday.
In this context, parents whose children attend private schools will see their maximum tax reductions increased while a fund of €1 million has been set up to help the schools invest in improvements.
Parents of primary school students will be able to save up to €1,600, compared to €1,200 a year before, while parents of secondary school students can save up to €2,300, up from €1,600. Children sent to private day care or kindergarten will save €1,300 rather than a maximum of €1,200.
This initiative will cost €600,000.
Last year, the rates had also been increased after having remained static since 2007. The move followed pressure by the Independent Schools Association, which said costs were becoming prohibitive. The new €1 million fund will “strengthen the sustainability of private schools”.
Schools will benefit according to their pupil population. A sum of €95 will be given per child in kindergarten, €145 in primary school and €170 in secondary education.
€23 million
– The increase in education expenditure
This fund will apply to: services related to students’ individual needs; investment in software and IT licences; improvement in science facilities; improvement in sports facilities and in the professional development of teachers.
“This is the first step of a three-year programme intended to grow in total consultation with the representatives of the operators in this sector,” Mr Fenech said. Meanwhile, the allocation to learning support assistants in private schools has doubled to €400,000. “We always believed this sector should keep providing an adequate and quality choice to parents in their children’s education.”
In all, the government will spend €359 million in the education sector, an increase of €23 million. (Last year, expenditure had risen by €32 million.)
This year’s increase includes €2 million more for Church schools.
The recurrent expenditure for the University and the Junior College will go up to €58.2 million.
The allocation for the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology will increase to €15.4 million.
Just over €22 million will be spent on stipends for the 18,000 students at the University, the Junior College, Mcast and the Institute for Tourism Studies. Stipend expenditure will continue increasing with student population.
A sum of €900,000 will be pumped in scholarships, allowing students to further their studies in other higher education institutions.
The government will also invest in an interactive science centre which will cost €3.5 million.