Sarah Carabott
Church schools under more scrutiny but issues remain
The recent increase in requests for Church school donations has rekindled questions about the transparency of the parents’ monetary contributions. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
The Education Directorate will be asking Church schools for information about any non-voluntary expenses parents are expected to bear, but questions remain about the transparency of requests for donations.
“As from this scholastic year, Church schools are being asked to indicate all non-voluntary costs expected from parents related to their children’s education, including stationery costs and uniform items bought exclusively from the school,” the Education Ministry said.
This measure, however, will not address transparency questions that have recently been raised with respect to voluntary donations, especially since parents in some Church schools are being asked for higher amounts.
According to the 1991 state-Church agreement, the government subsidises 10 per cent over and above staff costs to cover other expenses and last year pledged €43.2 million in subsidies. The agreement allows Church schools to request donations from parents to help them cover administrative and maintenance costs.
Church schools are not obliged to inform the directorate about these voluntary donations while the Church does not keep a record, since schools’ administration is autonomous.
“Given the independent and autonomous nature of these schools, each school makes its request for donations according to its own educational plans in line with its own... internal procedures,” a ministry spokesman said. “Such requests should be, and be seen to be, voluntary. “
Since its inception in 2008, the Quality Assurance Department has received only one allegation of a Church school putting parents under any pressure to provide the requested donation and even this proved unfounded.
With regard to public funds invested in Church schools, a rigorous compliance system ensures the money is accounted for and spent according to the rules, he added.
According to former Sacred Heart School headmaster Edward Mallia, the introduction of a similar element of accountability into voluntary donations would require a modification of the Church-state agreement.
However, parents as parents, and not as taxpayers, “are in the strongest position” to obtain transparency.
“The problem is that, as the increases being asked for are on the ‘donations’ side, it is the parents who should be pressing for more transparency and accountability,” he said, adding that parents are sometimes scared the school might do them, or their children, some mischief if they speak up.
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C Muscat
Feb 3rd, 22:02
As you can see from the remarks, we, parents are happy with the encouraging results obtained through our extra help with the donations so why come back with b xejn jew xejn. It is shameful that negative remarks are coming from persons that are clearly not donors.
Schembri Ray
Feb 3rd, 21:43
I went to S.P.M.C. and never, I said never we were asked to give any donation, altough they were much welcomed and appreciated. Today I go to the school reunion every year and now that I work I give my small contribution.
Tony Borg
Feb 3rd, 18:59
The last comment in this article tells all. Yes parents are scared that their children will be ridiculed and scorned in front of other children.
How about listing these "FEES" in the Income Tax Return like the Private School parents do?? Then the government will know exactly how much the Church Schools are getting from Parents.
Pamela Hansen
Feb 3rd, 17:08
“The problem is that, as the increases being asked for are on the ‘donations’ side, it is the parents who should be pressing for more transparency and accountability,” he said, adding that parents are sometimes scared the school might do them, or their children, some mischief if they speak up. No comment necessary.
Andy Farrugia
Feb 3rd, 18:18
"No comment necessary". How enlightening? That is, unless you wish to imply some kind of malicious innuendo. Perfectly in keeping with your style.
miriam musumeci
Feb 4th, 17:03
But does any one really believe this? 'no comment necessary'? of course its necessary! For one such comment, one can bring hundreds of others that state that parents are happy with the system as it and in no way find the contribution to be an imposition, so why just quote the one? Don't try and make a story where there is none! Incredible!!
James Portelli
Feb 3rd, 06:53
Like everything in life there is price and there is value.
Parents and students / ex-students probably appreciate the relevance of these two factors more than most when it comes to their / their children's education (whether in sate, church or private education).
The state (irrespective of colour) probably appreciates this as well ... it's pretty obvious that the value of church and private schools by far outweighs the price currently paid by the government or the cost the government would have to shoulder in their absence.
Grievances seem to be raised by people who either do not have children or do not educate them in church or private schools ..... But do they not experience their value when, for example, in need of e.g. a lawyer, doctor, nurse, accountant etc.? And, if they share in the price from which this value is derived, do they not (or will they never) also derive value from other tax-fuelled services for which other citizens (including parents) collectively contribute.
Miriam Musumeci
Feb 2nd, 23:00
But seriously, do you really think that the donation usually ranging from 350 /400 Euro A YEAR that is approximately 33 Euro a month ( equivalent to circa Lm14) A MONTH is a burden on the middle class family!? It is cheaper than one meal at a well known burger place for a family of four! I have yet to see this well know burger joint empty!! Anyone with common sense can see the futility of that argument! By refunding the staff's wages, the state is not AIDING , it is merely carrying out its contractual obligations under the 1991 Church State Agreement. The Church as the other party to the agreement carried out its part of the deal ( vide below). Unfortunately, it seems that the State is trying to slither and slide out of his? Its a pity after all we went thru in the past to safeguard the independence of Church schools! Have we all forgotten? What a shame!
Kenneth Muscat
Feb 3rd, 11:15
You are completely wrong Ms Musumeci .Our school Donation is 450 euro for 9 months which is 50euro a month+ 450 for the transport another 50euro a month + if my child is taking part in a play I have to pay him the entrance for the soiree + we have to go too .We have no aid from the gov. cause aid was given for parents who send their children to private schools.We need to know why 450 euros multiplied by 375 students is about 170,000 is not enough to run a school .just remember that teachers are payed by the gov.
C Muscat
Feb 3rd, 14:40
Kenneth Muscat note that church schools use prudently what we give. Our donations amount to 150 euro per family per term that is around 450 Euros per family annually. Some families that cannot afford to pay are exempted and aided.
One has to note that if you opt to send your children to a government school you will not pay any donation and you will not pay for transport.
I donated to the church school zero when I was pressed down and a donation for each of the 3 children when I was requested a donation per family when I was able to pay so. All children up to now gathered a lot of "A"s in many subjects in "O" and "A" levels and continued to University with ease thanks to the church schools they attended.
miriam musumeci
Feb 4th, 18:07
Mr Kenneth Muscat in answer to your comment, I am not wrong, you are just dividing it by 9 months to make the expense look heftier! However its an annual expense and you have to admit, when you divide it monthly it adds up to such a ridiculous amount that complaining about it might seem to be a bit exaggerated! Having said this,it is a voluntary donation and so if you can't afford it, you have every right not to, and trust me no one will take it on your child for doing so. I am involved in the school's PTA, not only do families in need not pay the donation, but the school helps them in other ways too and most importantly does not brag about it!
Donations are per FAMILY and NOT per child so once again you got your figures wrong, however even if they were correct, I am sure you know that computers, water, electricity, telephone, internet, maintenance, desks, boards, non-academic staff,paper, safety equipment, scientific equipment, laboratories, home economics equipment gym equipment, for all those children do not come free and you must agree, the amount you mentioned wouldn't go very far would they?
As regards the soiree issue, the issue is so silly that i am not even going to bother to comment on it.
Adding on transport expenses to the contribution is not a very intelligent thing to do as I was talking about EDUCATION expenses and you cannot attribute the charging of transport fees to the school. I for one find transport fees to be too expensive and thus drive my child to and fro school, with all the sacrifices this entails considering I work. Mr. Kenneth Muscat, what i really can't understand about your argument is that you are willing ( and can afford) to pay 450 euros to a driver to take your child to school ( a maximum of 1 hour's work per day). But you cannot afford or you find it too expensive to invest the SAME EXACT AMOUNT of a maximum of 35 euros a month to the institution who takes care of your child for a minimum of 6 hours a day, educate her, and provide her with all the necessary tools and the necessary environment for her to succeed and grow into an intelligent mature adult. I apologise for saying this Mr Muscat, but i personally think you have your priorities wrong! Wish as you may, teachers are not the only expense schools have, and unfortunately church schools will never be able to offer the excellent service they offer now without our help, so let us acknowledge this fact and continue to and give our help and support to the school,as parents, in the best interest of our children.
Maria Brincat
Feb 2nd, 22:41
With respect, I cannot really see what all the fuss is about.. We parents who send our children to church schools are getting a service.. the salaries are paid by the govt. but it takes more than just teachers to run a school... and the govt. subsidy covers only 10% of the additional cost.. So what is the problem with giving a donation ?? And the amount is generally small, definitely a lot smaller than a private school fee.
Any parents who feel that they should not be paying a donation, should just pull their children out of church schools, that way they'd leave more space for those of us whose children were not lucky enough to get in.
Nazzareno Cortis
Feb 2nd, 16:17
From the below,it seems that the problem actually is that those families who could help by giving donations are feeling the pressure of the cost of living and are not any more in a position,and cannot afford to give extra money from their pockets!!!!! In my opinion,the so called middle class is feeling this blow!!! Meanwhile,there are those well off families who do not have any money problems!!!!! The goverment (that is we the public) already gives the church schools some 43 million ewros!!!! Can the govt.put more pressure on us (we the general public),to give more aid to the Church schools????? I really wonder!!!!!
Ylenia Vella
Feb 2nd, 16:05
My parents came from a working class. My father could not afford to send me to church or private schools. But even money apart, I think that my parents' choice would still have been state run schools.
I have to say that I attended State Primary Schools and I always had very good teachers, was brought up to be a disciplined student and well prepared to start Secondary Education. I used to attend Carlo Diacono, Girls' Junior Lyceum in Zejtun, which at that time was the best State run Junior Lyceum for girls. The headmistress was strict, disciplined and supported by very dedicated teachers. Once again, I was prepared for my O Levels. I got very good grades, and this coming from a state run school.
I was encouraged to continue studying. I got my A' Levels from a state run Post Secondary school and started University. At the age of 26, I had already achieved 2 degrees. I am mentioning this not to receive praise from you, but to make you understand that the Educational System in the State Run Schools was, is and will remain good. Parental support during the education period of their children is very important.
I do not think that achievements of students depend on which school he or she attends, but on the self ability to move on, study, work hard and be self disciplined!
Maria Brincat
Feb 2nd, 22:45
X'ghandu x'jaqsam????
I also have two degrees, one of them a Masters...and I always attended a church school..And I proud of it. And I want both my children to get their education in a church school.
And FYI, Ms. Vella, you had state education that was free because people like my parents paid for it out of their taxes, in addition to paying the donations at my school....and my parents were working class, too.
Maria Barbara
Feb 3rd, 07:23
Well said Ylenia. I think today a lot of parents think that without discipline at home the children will get discipline from school and the parents have nothing to do, just please their children . Whoever wants to study, in whichever school they go, they need to have a good backing from home. School will compliment the discipline from home.
Jon Vercellono
Feb 3rd, 14:46
thank you for the reklami from Mile End.
Maria Barbara
Feb 2nd, 15:19
I have personally always gone to govt. school and I am not sorry. I have studied whatever I wanted up to Uni. But I want my daughter in a Church School. I knew beforehand I have to pay, I have to get the books and pay for them. However, and let us be very clear: I know, not believe, that if I had to have some big crisis and asked the headmistress, who is a Nun to waiver the fee for me, that in the spirit of the Church she would do it. I know it has been done, it is being done and it will continue to be done without a lot of waving and showing what the left hand is doing to the right hand. The nuns and priests, since i happen to work in a church school as well, will always listen to persons who have financial problems. Otherwise, we all have to do our budget before we decide where to send our children to school.
Miriam Musumeci
Feb 2nd, 14:26
In my humble opinion the Education Directorate has no right to ask Church schools what they are doing with the money I decide to donate to the school. It is a donation given by me voluntarily and with absolute trust to the school for it to do with it as it pleases in the best interest of my child. This is downright uncalled for intrusion! I for one have no doubt as to where my donation is going as the school keeps us informed of this on a regular basis. It is by nature a voluntary donation and the Education directorate should have no say on whether I contribute or not. What I do with my money is entirely up to me. I am very happy to contribute with my donations towards the well being of my child at her school and will keep on doing so notwithstanding any stand the Education Directorate decides to take!. It is money well spent.. Criticising/ doubting the Church and its institutions seems to have become a national hobby so I guess its the church's school's turn now. I smell a hidden agenda here. it seems that the autonomy and independency of church schools are being attacked from all fronts. I wonder why?
C Sant
Feb 2nd, 17:18
You could not have said it better - all my three children attended Church school and I can say the the returns to every Euro that I donated would at least be 10 times as much!
Donating money to build a gym, or sports ground or for better computer facilities or better labs or Home Economics environment or better library faciklities is not money thrown away and most school would in fact give a breakdown of the new facilities towards that woudl have been funded by our donations.
Andy Farrugia
Feb 2nd, 18:30
Well said, Ms Musumeci. Unfortunately there are some characters, who are in certain influential positions, who have made it their mission in life to attack the Church and whatever it stands for. Not particularly original, anti-clericalism, you know.
Philip Camilleri
Feb 2nd, 14:26
Mr Vercellono, I can understand where you are coming from, however, the state is obliged by law to provide free education to one and all up to age 16, it is not obliged to pay for third parties to provide the ducation.
As a taxpayer you feel agrieved to pay for state schools and also make contributions to church school. Spare a thought for taxpayers who do not have any children and have to pay for both state and church schools !.
I attended a church school and am very happy with the level of education provided. This does not mean that I should not point out things I do not feel are just. Imagine if taxpayers had to pay for schools of all denominations in the future.....
A clear line needs to be marked between state and any religion or private clubs/organizations or any other names they use....
I believe that at some stage our two big white elephants namely Health and Education will not be able to survive in their current format, would it not be wise to review them at this stage rather than have to make drastic cuts once we no longer are in a position to have some form of sustainable Education and Healthcare for all......
I believe that most individuals, if they forget individual needs and political bias will admit to themselves that the numbers in Education and Health are running out of control...
Food for thought, if you do not agree, I respect your position.
Peter Borg
Feb 2nd, 14:17
Why should the Maltese tax payer subsidize church schools particularly so when the state coffers are in the current sorry state? The state should only have to finance its own schools and if any religious institution or organisation wishes to operate schools then it should pay its own way and not expect government handouts. Naturally it should also be allowed to charge fees.
The state should concentrate on its own schools and ensure that they achieve the highest standards. Better still since in my view the state is not and will never be, capable of achieving the same high standards and cost efficiencies that the private does it might be better for all for the state to let the private sector manage its schools and limit itself to paying the fees for those students whose families fall below a certain income bracket. A better standard of education and cost savings too !
Miriam Musumeci
Feb 2nd, 14:12
This is incredible!! we all seem to be forgetting what the state got in return for church school fundings! The church had given up all ( or the very major part of its property) PRESENT and FUTURE to the state in return for the state to fund church school's teachers' wages. So keep in mind that the state is not doing this out of the goodness of its heart but it was paid for doing so and has a contractual obligation to continue doing so as part of the deal!
Kevin Camilleri
Feb 2nd, 13:55
For all those asking why they should pay for Church schools, I will put forward a set of questions and you'll tell me why I should pay for these:
Why should I PAY for ANY school since I have no children attending any school nor I am attending any?
Why should I PAY for Free Medicine the Government gives out when I do not receive any? (Thank God)
Why should I PAY for the Hospital since I do not need it right now? (Thank God)
Why should I PAY for the Single Mother's Benefits?
Why should I PAY for those who simply do not want to work and live off the social benefits?
Why should I PAY for the illegal immigrant foods, clothes, etc?
Do I need to continue? The list is infinite you know! We pay taxes, and these are distributed as the need arises, including Church schools! Church schools lighten the Government's burden of Education. If it wasn't for Church Schools, apart from paying out for the teacher's wages, the government would need to fork out every single cent for all the educational material, premises etc. Thank God that church schools exist! The Governments (colour irrelevant) waste millions on things we do not want or need, are we complaining because these schools are CHURCH schools? Lately the word CHURCH is being hated too much!
Sunny Trapnell
Feb 3rd, 09:18
Very Good Kevin. I would like to add something more What is the interest for these people to know ? Make yourselves forward and tells us why ?
William Calleja
Feb 2nd, 13:27
Are private schools subsidized by the Government in the same way that Church Schools are?
A Camilleri
Feb 2nd, 16:07
No, but the government didn't get a large portfolio of properties and land and from as it did with the Church
Maria Brincat
Feb 2nd, 22:36
Hekk imiss ukoll !! the government subsidizes private schools!!
The amount parents are asked to donate in a church school are really minimal.. Try comparing the donation at achurch school with the fee for a private school...lanqas tibda.
Benigno Saliba
Feb 2nd, 13:15
In these hard times, it is clear that many church schools find it difficult to maked ends meet. So parents will have to fork in to alleviate expenses. What is of paramount importance is that our Education ministry strives harder to ameliorate the educational and pedagogical standard of public schools, which, in the majority of cases, is abismal. I know what I am saying, because I spent 42 years teaching in both primary and secondary schools. Our political parties often treat the Education Department as a venue for vote-catching employments and promotions. Hardly ever appointments were made on meritorious grounds, which is a direct cause for our deteriorating educational standards. Workers' families prefer church schools not out of choice but out of their earnest desire to give a chance in life for their children.
C Muscat
Feb 2nd, 14:11
I agree 100%.
Philip Camilleri
Feb 2nd, 13:08
It is about time the 1991 agreement is reviewed. How much has the taxpayer paid out so far?Why should parents who send their children to state schools also fund church schools? surely taxpayers should only pay for state schools, then parents who wish to send there children to church or private schools can pay whatever the church or any other organization charges for their services.
Jon Vercellono
Feb 2nd, 13:49
Better yet, why should I (who send my child to a church school) pay for state schools? Separate it down the middle. Labour mediocrity, bring everyone down to the lowest common denominator - an uneducated lumpenproletariat; that was the aim of the 1991 agreement (in addition to envy). Ridiculous.
C Muscat
Feb 2nd, 14:03
You do not have any idea of the situation. In Malta we have the public schools offering free education including stipends (and I hope this stays for the good of the country because this is the only asset we have)...we have Church Schools which are funded partly by the mutual agreement (when Malta got so many land for the joint office) and partly funded by the parents (paying for transport, books, donations etc) and private schools practically 100% funded by the parents. I do not have the percentages for each category but all these contain maltese children that all together would be a nightmare for us taxpayers to take all the burden.
Therefore I thank 100% those parents educating their children at their expense; I thank the Church and the parents together for educating their children at the church schools (also releaving the state from the whole burden) and all the others are to thank our system for educating all and everyone for the benefit of the country.
Mr Ernest Vella
Feb 2nd, 15:37
ma ssemmewx l-artijiet li ttiehdu lil Knisja f'dan kollu li gie rrapportat
S. Zammit
Feb 2nd, 12:31
Parents who cannot afford to pay such donations must at leas ( Unless they already do ) offer their services for maintanance during the summer months. This would ease the the weight on the school if they had to pay outsiders.
Private schools are catered for due to their bills (rightly so).
Govt schools are paid by our taxes.
Church schools need every little help to ensure our children get the right education in a comfortable environment. This is all because when the church school left the individual donate as much as they wanted they could not make ends meet, hence the hike and demand for donation. A donation MUST come from the heart and not by force. But if the parent doesn't contibute one way or another the Church has to apply these measures. We are talking about our Children's second home and education. They spend most of their time at school.
C Muscat
Feb 2nd, 12:30
I am a parent and have sent my children to Church schools and to send my childrn to these school I have always paid for the school transport which is not provided and not voluntary. I knew beforehand of these issues and I am grateful for the education and upbringing my children got from Church schools. I always gave my donation whether requested or not because one of these school will make it clear from day one that the donation is really and totally voluntary and told us what was done with the donations of the previous year. Other schools make it clear that the donations are voluntary but needed.
As long as the public has the option of free education from the government, I leave it to the parents to decide and choose from private, church and public schools; but leave the non government schools operational so that the governmental schools will have some kind of challenge as otherwise we will become like comunist countries.
Jon Vercellono
Feb 2nd, 14:02
read my comment, I totally agree.
I Bugeja
Feb 2nd, 12:26
While calling it a donation, I do think that it encompasses some sense of duty to it. After all parents who send their children to church schools feel obliged to contribute. Not out of mischief if they speak up as reported in this story but out of knowing that the state aid will not be enough.
my points are two:
1. Most probably parents will send their children to church schools because they don't want their children to mingle with other children who are less disciplined (to put it in nice words).
2. If however they do decide to send them to church schools, then don't complain about increased hikes in donations as those who choose to send their children to public schools should not bear the burden of your choices.
I myself have been sent to 2 church schools and loved it however my parents (working class) paid the extra themselves without asking anyone to bear the brunt.
S. Zammit
Feb 2nd, 12:45
@ I Bugeja,
I don't agree with you in just one thing. Your statement re Gvt schools and the less disciplined children. My child goes to a Gvt school and I can assure you that most of the children are well mannered and well educated coming from good families. Less disciplined children are also found in private and church schools
A Camilleri
Feb 2nd, 12:07
If church schools are not allowed to ask for donations, in a very short time they will deteriorate. How are they expected to cover costs which are not catered for by the government agreement such as upgrades, improvements, new infrastructure, new computers and technology, airconditioning, interactive white-boards, capital expenses etc. As it is the church schools already struggle to keep up with government schools as with the case of the interactive white boards. I am a parent of a child attending a church school and gladly pay my donation. The only thing that bothers me is that for the school to meet its budget, effectively those who pay the donation have to make up for those who don't.
Paul Azzopardi
Feb 2nd, 11:26
I am a parent, with a child attending a church school and we are obliged to pay the school donation. No qustion about that donations are frequent and are getting heftier as time passes. We are all aware that times are not so great but then again it goes both ways. It can be embarassing to refuse them as the way donations are asked for goes short of demanding. With the pledge of monies from the government one would hope they could lay off the continued demand of ''donations'' but then couldnt it be also possible that the church maybe similar or akin to any other business enterprise and would not care for the pressures their student's families maybe going through especially with such a down turn in the economy or don't they experience the economical pressure like we do?
Louis Galea
Feb 2nd, 12:25
Dear Mr Azzopardi,
It must have been your choice, and your choice alone, to send your child in a church school. If you're undergoing economical pressure, like everyone else, you should consider to send your child to a Free Govt. School!
My choice was to send my son to a Private School, which by the way is far more expensive than the meagre donations being paid to church schools. But this ofcoarse is my choice and mine alone!
Kenneth Muscat
Feb 3rd, 10:58
This is our choice ,but its also for the good of our children.There is difference in the schools and we have to pay for them and we make a lot of sacrifice for our Children to pay the donations + Transport.Mr Galea now the goverment is going to help you because you put your son in a Private school,but we are not included.Plus dont say that your private school is higher than church schools cause there are church schools which are higher.I don't know why certain church schools the donation is 150 and others is 450 ?
Ms Marianne Mercieca
Feb 3rd, 23:56
@ Kenneth Muscat
maybe because 150 is for one term and 450 is for three terms (one scholastic year)?? NO CHURCH SCHOOL in Malta asks for 450 euro per term!!
Ms.D. Galea
Feb 2nd, 11:18
Min ma jogbux jista' imur l iskola tal-gvern .
Patrick Pace
Feb 2nd, 12:11
Ms Galea, kemm int brava!
Jien naffordja nibghat t-tfal skola tal-knisja imma qatt ma nippermetti li naghmel `statement` bhal tieghek li jitradixxi l-ispirtu tal-knisja li int suppost thaddan. Skuzani imma din xejn hlief ipokresija.
Paul Azzopardi
Feb 2nd, 14:55
Mr Galea God bless you since ur doing so fine, mine was a question of the choice of sending the kid to a Church school cause we believe in doing so. And as you mentioned its a matter of choice doesnt mean you have to be so pomp about it. I didnt seperate or base our choice on money or that Government school are worse infact some brianiacs have emerged from Government schools or We r doing so cause of the neighbours like some but its a matter of principle. Then so it also depends how a Private school differs to you from a Church school.
Joseph Scerri
Feb 2nd, 15:26
Ms Galea tidher li ghandek qalbek tajba miod-dehra. Donnu ghalik min ghandu jiekol u min maghndux jibqa bil-guh Il-knisja mhux hekk tghallem sa fejn naf jien
Mr Ernest Vella
Feb 2nd, 15:40
Patrick, waqt li int ghandek ragun mill-banda l-ohra hija verita wkoll li min jibghat lit-tfal tieghu go skola tal-Knisja, kollha ghandhom governanza differenti...jekk ma taqbilx mas-sistema fittex sistema ohra jekk din ma toghgbokx.
Paul Caruana
Feb 2nd, 11:03
There does need to be an increased scrutiny of "not for profit" institutions, such as church schools. The new measures go in the right direction. The next step is for the relevant authorities to meet with church school representatives and draw up guidelines on the requests by these not for profit schools for donations, which in practice are anything but "voluntary"!
C Muscat
Feb 2nd, 12:16
Ergjna ghal b xejn jew xejn.....ghidilna jekk it-tfal tieghek baghthomx u x hallast biex dahhalthom u biex izzommhom hemm. Imbaghad jien nghidlek ir-rizultati li gabu t-tfal tieghi....
Ms Maria Vella
Feb 2nd, 10:40
Education does not only reach towards the academic side.........
Narcy Calamatta
Feb 2nd, 10:31
quote: ... scared the school might do them, or their children, some mischief if they speak up. Surely this is unthinkable when talking about any organisation that is a 'church' organisation. Harm to children ? Unthinkable.
C Muscat
Feb 2nd, 12:10
Dawn affarijiet serji. It-tajjeb trid tghidlu tajjeb u l-hazin trid tghidlu hazin. Jekk l-iskejjel tal-knisja huma tajbin ghandna nibzghu ghalihom u nghinuhom; min ma jogghbuhx ihalli lil min irid jaghzel u nispera li ma hux ser nergghu nigu jew b xejn jew xejn biex neqirduhom. Jien it-tfal tieghi lesti u gawdew minn dawn l-iskejjel...meta ma stajtx ma tajtx u ma gara xejn u meta stajt pattejt u sena minnhom tajt it-triplu ghax kelli tlett itfal u tajt ghal kull tifla u mhux kif jitolbu ghal kull familja u s-sena li ma hdimtx ma gara xejn u ma hadu xejn.
Iz zmien tal-komunizmu ghadda u min jogghbu ghandu jirsisti biex jekk il-polza tghinu jkun fortunat u t-tfal igawdu bhal ma gawdew tieghi.
Andy Farrugia
Feb 2nd, 14:44
Kemm ghandek sens tal-ironija elevat sur Calamatta? Sewwa jghidu min jitwieled tond ma jmutx kwadru! Old habits (discredited, failed ideologies?) die hard!
j brincat
Feb 2nd, 10:24
@Mark. Galea
"excuse my ignorance, but why do people want to put their children in those schools"
Elementary dear Watson! Cause there is no comparison between church schools and public ones, though some public schools are much better than others.
Many parents are also scared stiff because of the curriculum.
Got it?
(jb)
Mark. Galea
Feb 2nd, 11:35
does that mean that paying extra guarantees a better education? Then I would pay extra.
Or else return to the KMB years and close down church schools.
I Bugeja
Feb 2nd, 12:13
@Mark i do hope that paying extra guarantees a better education otherwise why bother?
Mark. Galea
Feb 2nd, 10:06
excuse my ignorance, but why do people want to put their children in those schools if they do not like the methods? There are many state schools around which are free? They can attend those schools. Seems that "good" education is not that cheap, either ...
Albert Farrugia
Feb 2nd, 10:00
Echos of "Jew b'xejn jew xejn"....how times change! Veru min jitkaza jaghqa fil-kaza.
j brincat
Feb 2nd, 09:44
Seems that the slogan 'Money, no problem' no longer holds true.
Squeeze, squeeze and more squeezing!
Hope all this squeezing goes to relieve the tax payers and not wasted in some fancy project like the Breakwater 'bridge'!
(jb)
F. Pisani
Feb 2nd, 10:34
That is why we have FREE STATE SCHOOLS. If you want things for free go for a state school but if you are willing to pay than go for it.
Jon Vercellono
Feb 2nd, 12:02
TO Mark Galea - irt you hopefully tongue in cheeck statement - children should be assured the best education their parents can provide for them. Thank goodness parents have the choice of schools - not a one size fits all KMB run "academic" institution. The politics of envy have no place in any discussion of children's welfare. Yeah, take away and close church schools - who did it impact? The children (and they weren't closed for some philosophical argument either).