New primary schools are planned in several localities that have experienced an influx of mostly foreign students over the past few years, the Education Ministry said.
Student populations have mushroomed in primary schools like St Paul’s Bay, Gżira and Marsascala as a result of demographic shifts and an increase in EU citizens residing in Malta for work.
The Education Ministry said this phenomenon led to an “increased and unpredicted” demand for primary schools in these areas.
However, this situation contrasts with that of other primary schools that are significantly underutilised as a result of a dwindling student population.
This contrast was recently highlighted by the National Audit Office, which suggested amalgamating small State primary schools to save on operational costs.
Asked about the findings of the NAO report, a spokesman said the ministry was concerned that certain primary schools were not fully utilised because of low student numbers. But without elaborating, he added any changes “would have to improve the educational experience of children”.
The NAO report on class sizes in State primary schools tabled in Parliament last week found wide disparities in the costs incurred to run the various government primary schools.
The NAO suggested that primary schools with very few students should be amalgamated with neighbouring, bigger schools to save on costs while others operating at full capacity should be extended or have new schools built.
The audit showed how the operational cost per student at the San Lawrenz primary school was €9,000, nearly three times the national average. The school, which can handle 150 students, has a population of just 43 across all year groups, leading to very small class sizes. Similar situations were recorded in Għarb and Gudja.
The NAO concluded that there was little correlation between smaller class sizes and academic achievement.
But the report was criticised by the Malta Union of Teachers that said education could not be reduced to a simple accounting exercise. The union said academic achievement was not the sole measure of educational achievement.
Any changes would have to improve the educational experience of children
The ministry said it was fully aware of the concerns flagged by the NAO and noted that in some localities the concern was even bigger.
“The report calls for action and the ministry will heed this call, while emphasising that any changes will have to have the ultimate aim of improving the educational experience for our children,” the spokesman said.
He noted that the NAO report also called for improved demographic monitoring to prepare for an increase in demand in certain areas.
In fact, population shifts are the main driver for new primary schools planned in St Paul’s Bay, Marsascala, Mosta, Kirkop, Pembroke, Gozo and the Rabat and Dingli area, the ministry said.
“These schools are in different stages of planning or construction. There are many other schools that will have additional annexes built to supply the increased demand of the locality,” the ministry said.
The NAO report found that 30 out of 68 State primary schools had a student population below 200 across all year groups in 2013. This led to five of the 30 schools operating with an average class size below 10 students, four of which were located in Gozo.
The operational expenditure of primary schools, including the kinder years, amounted to more than €68 million, of which 94 per cent were wages.
The NAO said the situation raised concerns about the need for a State primary school in almost every town and village, particularly in situations where the declining student population was more pronounced.
However, the NAO acknowledged that the difficulty of rationalising class size and school building was hindered by the historical practice of maintaining a primary school in every town and village.
kurt.sansone@timesofmalta.com