Sarah Carabott
Church schools forced to ask for more money
Places in Church schools, which are drawn in a Curia lottery, are coveted by many parents. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Not even Church schools are forgiven when it comes to economic difficulties and most have had to ask for a higher “voluntary donation” from parents to enable them to keep up with utility bills and technological advances.
Half of the Church schools that spoke to The Times recently increased their voluntary-donation requests by an average of €105 a year.
This increase is intended to cover aspects such as administrative and maintenance costs, utilities, ICT and laboratory equipment, sports facilities, salaries for maternity leave replacement teachers and extra-curricular activities.
One school, St Paul’s Missionary College, introduced a nominal voluntary donation of €150 this scholastic year after it opened a new primary school.
Only two schools do not ask for a donation, while another leaves families free to give the amount they wish or afford.
The government provides financial support to Church school, as does the Church itself. According to the 1991 State-Church agreement, the government subsidises 10 per cent over and above staff costs to cover any other expenses and last year pledged €43.2 million in subsidies.
Parents who contacted The Times raised an eyebrow over the rising requests for donations in the past two years.
Schools must inform the government about fees charged before the beginning of the scholastic year.
However, Church schools are not obliged to inform the Education Department about voluntary donations.
The Times sent questions to 48 Church schools but only 23 answered, while St Michael School directed the newspaper to its online portal and to parents themselves to gain more information.
In general, Church schools say they do not “charge” a fixed donation but suggest a particular amount depending on the number of students and the school’s total expenditure, including infrastructural work carried out in summer.
From the information provided to The Times, the requested donations vary widely, between a yearly €150 and €600 per student.
Six schools suggest a fixed amount to be donated per family, irrespective of the number of children attending the school. Parents or guardians are then left free to decide on the amount of money to donate.
Not all families give a donation, while others provide a fraction of it. To make ends meet, some schools hold fund-raising events.
The schools argued that the donation was not a fee, and families were free to give as much as they could afford. Most schools said parents with financial difficulties were told to “forget about the donation”, while some students were provided with resources and “even the bare essentials”.
Parents are usually informed about the schools’ income and expenditure through information booklets and newsletters.
The Convent of the Sacred Heart School Foundation even sets aside a small sum to support parents of children who require professional assistance not available at school, such as a psychological service.
| School | Current donation (euros/year) | Previous donation (euros/year) | Number of students |
| Bishop’s Conservatory Secondary school | No fixed amount | No fixed amount | Did not specify |
| Convent of the Sacred Heart School Foundation | 450 | 450 last year, no fixed one for the previous year | 904 in primary and secondary schools |
| Sacred Heart Minor Seminary | Do not ask for donation | Do not ask for donation | Did not specify |
| St Albert the Great College | 390 | 390 | 400 in primary and secondary schools |
| St Aloysius College | 400 | 350 (up to two years ago) | 1,060 in secondary school in Sixth Form |
| St Augustine College | 450 | 300 till last year | 450 |
| St Dorothy’s Junior School | 600 | 420 | 320 |
| St Dorothy’s Senior School | Did not specify amount | 600 last year, 384 in 2006 | 435 |
| St Elias College | 360 | 300 last year | 235 |
| St Jeanne Antide College, Immaculate Conception school and Holy Family School at Birżebuġa | Refused to quantify amount | Refused to quantify amount | 600 |
| St Joseph School (Senior section), Sliema | 500/per family | 500/per family last year | 280 |
| St Francis School, Victoria, Gozo | Do not ask for donation | Do not ask for donation | Did not specify |
| St Monica School, Birkirkara | 450/family | 360/family | 675 in primary and secondary schools |
| St Monica School, Gzira | 450/family | 360/family | 733 |
| St Monica School, Mosta (linked to Birkirkara School) | 450/family | 360/family | 140 |
| St Paul’s Missionary College | 150 | No fixed amount | 365 in primary and secondary school |
| Stella Maris, Balzan | 350-400/family | 350-400/family | 547 |
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30 Comments
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Gerry Cowie
Jan 10th, 23:02
It is pitiful that some people cannot keep having digs at the divorce referendum and the Church's involvement. The Church had a moral duty to put its side and that meant using money. Why can the pro lobby not be happy with their tiny 2% majority caused by thousands of abstentions and move on like everybody else?
Carmel Camilleri
Jan 10th, 15:19
The present system of donations is not a fair one because from experience i know that many parents just have a ride on donators. In my view all parents should give the same amount.Those who cannot afford should send their children to Govt Schools which i am sure provide the same education as other schools.
A. Xuereb
Jan 10th, 16:53
Well said. Some (read most) parents who have more than one child in the same school dont have the decency to pay that little bit extra for the second child, even if both parents work or they are quite well off. The donations system is based on a "per family' basis and not on a 'per child' basis. This should be changed immediately, as some peole are outright bummers.
Charles Massa
Jan 10th, 13:36
Ff dawn iz zminijiet meta l familji ma jistawx ilehhqu mal hajja, ic Church Schools ghandhom imorru ghand Gonzi biex inaqsilhom il kontijiet ta dawl u ilma.Imma jien ghad ma smajt l ebda ufficjal mil knisja fejn hareg jattakka il gvern fuq dawn il kontijet esagirati li qed inhalsu. Titlob ghalaktar donation is the easy way out
D. Xerri
Jan 10th, 12:59
Church schools forced to ask for more money...........Hmmm Maybe a lot of Money was spent on the Anti-Divorce Campaigning :~) so the budgeting found a deficit
Zagroma Savrene
Jan 10th, 12:42
Well, for starters, the church school should cut down on the spending on religious decorations and other religious related stuff, waste of money, not everyone who goes to church schools believes in god !
Roberta Ferrante
Jan 10th, 16:24
Your argument does not make sense. It's like entering a Labour party club and asking for the removal of Joseph Muscat's portrait, or likewise, going to a PN club and ask the members to remove the picture of Lawrence Gonzi.
People who do not believe in God, or rather feel offended by the image of God need not feel obliged to send their children to church schools, it's as simple as that.
Joanne Cardona
Jan 10th, 17:05
Well than you should opt for a private or government school. Students are not forced to attend religious activities and different believes are respected ... at least in my times when I was in a church school!
mario gellel
Jan 10th, 12:23
AND ALL THIS IS IN 'GOD'S NAME' ???????
William Calleja
Jan 10th, 12:14
Do private schools that aren't owned by the church receive subsidies? Also do the private schools that aren't owned by the chuch pay taxes on their student fee profits?
Joseph Calleja
Jan 10th, 11:59
Catholic schools are just like any other business. They have profits and expenses like any other business. On the other hand most Catholic Schools and Colleges cater to the upper class and not too many people can afford to enroll their children in these schools and colleges.May I remind you that those subsidies by the government, are afforded by yours truly, the TAX PAYER.
Ms.D. Galea
Jan 10th, 12:40
Mr calleja, the salaries of teahcers in church schools is not subsidized by the tax payer, never fear. It is given in lieu of the properties handed over to the government of Malta as per church/ state agreement of more then 20 years ago.
Everything else to do with running a school ie labs, grounds, maintenance, IT etc has to be financed by donations, fund raising activities etc.
J. Parnis
Jan 10th, 11:39
Elementary. Those parents 'who raised an eyebrow' may kindly proceed to their child's respective school administration office and inform the secretary that their child will not attend their school anymore, then drive up to the Education Dept. in order to have their child registered in a Government school. A very simple procedure that will not take up more then 2 hours.
A. Xuereb
Jan 10th, 13:59
Well said. Some parents send their children to church schools because they do not want to send them to a government school but they cannot afford private schooling. The unfairness with church schools lies in the fact that families with 3 children in the same school pay as much as families with 1 child in the school. This should be changed to ensure a fairer system whereby every student pays for his education. Let s not forget that children with older siblings in a school are guaranted an automatic place in the school, therefore it is only fair that parents pay for each and every child.
Families with low income who declare they are unable to pay the fees should be means tested to verify their financial situation in order to curb abuse.
Ms Gemma Axiaq
Jan 10th, 11:00
Please distinguish between Private schools and Church Schools. Yes, they are different... in various aspects. Thank you.
Joseph Brincat
Jan 10th, 10:54
CHURCH SCHOOLS FORCED TO ASK FOR MORE MONEY !!!!
NO PROBLEM
EASY CHARGE THOSE WHO WANTS TO SEND THEIR
CHILDREN TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS ??????
Carmelo Azzopardi
Jan 10th, 10:37
The 150 euros + that We donate to St Paul’s Missionary College are peanuts compared to the impeccable service that this collage is giving to us and to our son. For those that are complaining about the church schools and the fact that they receive donations, If you don't like them than you are free to send your children elsewhere but also keep in mind that We pay taxes as well and part of the taxes we pay go for state schools even if we don't send our son there and we never complained about it. I do not have anything against state schools at all they are good with some very dedicated teachers I attended state school myself even at my times the situation was much different.
W Cassar
Jan 10th, 10:21
I never understood why private schools should be subsidised.... Can someone tell me?
Joe Fenech
Jan 10th, 10:32
Don't worry : this is a system that is found all over Europe (even in the hyper capitalist UK !).
Carmelo Azzopardi
Jan 10th, 10:42
for the only reason that the church is doing a favor to the government in reducing the burden on the state schools. So it is in the interest of the gov to have these schools,.
Ms Deirdre Farrugia
Jan 10th, 12:40
May I help you understand...
Parents who send their children to private schools, by their own choice of course, are saving the government a hell of a lot of money. By law, children must attend school from the age of 4 (I think) till they are 16 (I think), i.e. 12 or so years compulsory schooling. If a child is not attending government school (for which same parents are paying taxes for anyway) they are saving the government 12 years of schooling fees for one child. Therefore, private school parents receive a SMALL rebate on their tax bill - only fair since the service is not being used for at least 12 years don't you think?
Ms.D. Galea
Jan 10th, 12:42
Mr Cassar , refer to the church/ state agreement re the financing of Church schools teachers'salaries .
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
Jan 10th, 10:10
The government should stop subsidizing the church. He should instead give the money to parents. this will create further competition in the sector which is only healthy. We cannot trust the church with our money.
J Degabriele
Jan 10th, 11:03
The government is not subsidizing the schools. The money that church schools get from govt is part of an infamous church-state agreement that now goes back years. The Church gave its lands to the govt and the govt had to "help" the schools survive.This had followed the "jew xejn jew b'xejn" campaign of the Labour govt of the time.
All the people involved in that deal looked no further than their noses! They couldn't see a time when the whole thing would have become impossible. That is what's happening now. Most parents understand and pay their "dues" but others are getting a free ride on others' backs! One simply cannot get anything for nothing. Everything has to be paid for.
matthew tanti
Jan 10th, 11:40
le lil xi wiehed bhalek, estremist lemini.
Adriano Spiteri
Jan 10th, 10:09
Church schools are no different to private schools
Dr Gonzi has been saying that the Government opened one school every year
With so many Government schools around, Church schools should not benefit from grants
David Smith
Jan 10th, 10:06
An unfair practice is for church schools to ask for a donation based on the number of families rather than per child. A family having two or more children attending the same school is asked to pay the same amount as a family having one child. Totally unfair and unjust!
Lawrence Fenech
Jan 10th, 09:22
Hlejtuhom fil-kas tad-divorzju.
Mr Tony Busuttil
Jan 10th, 09:19
A church school in Birkirkara decided to close down its VERY busy gym in the morning. The excuse was for security reasons. The gym is very far from the school and on a good advise they should have created a good security syste, But the reason was to get rid of some staff. This was a good revenue for the school.
j brincat
Jan 10th, 09:19
Not even Church schools are forgiven when it comes to economic difficulties and most have had to ask for a higher “voluntary donation” from parents to enable them to keep up with utility bills and technological advances."
That's thanks to Gonzi's insensitivity who raised the utility bills sky high without any consideration whatsover just to balance his books. At the same time he handsomely gave himself, his ministers and parliamentary secretaries the hefty sum of €500 WEEKLY. So that we would not be jealous of him he hid this reward that he gave himself from us poor immortals!
(jb)
GonziPN = GonziNM