The collaboration and synergy between state and church schools was so strong that the government felt the need to involve church school officials in boards which worked on educational policies and reforms, Education Minister Dolores Cristina said.

Speaking during a visit to St Dorothy’s School in Sliema, the minister thanked church schools for their major contribution to the country and to Maltese and Gozitan children.

The government, she said, had always believed in the participation of the Church in several sectors of life and noted that in the first three years of this legislature, it gave more than €105 million to Church schools

In 2011, it allocated €43.2 million for these schools. Most of this money was used to pay the salaries of teachers, LSAs, kindergarten assistants, counsellors and social workers.

Earlier this year, the government signed an agreement with the Curia for children attending church schools to be given the same support and services given by students who attended state schools. For this year, the government allocated €44.2 million to continue financing church schools while investing in the quality of teaching given by teachers and LSAs.

The government also refunded 15.2 per cent on capital expenses required for the implementation of educational reforms.

The minister noted that there were more than 525 LSAs in church schools who were paid by the government to provide a service for around 800 children.

Ms Cristina said that two church schools were currently taking part in a pilot project for vocational subjects to be introduced at secondary level.