Government to offer over €15 million in assistance to church and independent schools

The government will offer €15.18 million worth of assistance to church and independent schools - €9.6 million for church schools and €5.58 million for independent schools.

During a parliamentary session, PN MP Clyde Puli asked a series of questions to newly appointed Education Minister Justyne Caruana, asking her to explain what aid was given to independent schools and church schools due to the effects of the pandemic before and after September.

He asked for the total amount that was provided, how much was given in the past school year and how much they have been awarded for this school year, how many schools have benefitted, why and when they were granted this aid.

Caruana explained that independent schools have benefited from a government scheme where a payment of €800 or €500 was provided to teachers employed on a full-time or parttime basis respectively. These schools have extended the per capita scheme to meet the needs of more pupils without reducing the ceiling.

On the other hand, Caruana said that because of the agreement the government has with the Holy See, the wages of stateapproved educators who work in church schools continued to be covered by the State.

With regard to aid for the scholastic year covering 2020/2021, the Minster said that the government will be offering church schools €9.6 million and €5.58 million to independent schools; a total of €15.18 million. She explained that no payments have been issued as of yet as there haven’t been any schools that have submitted a call for financial aid.