Over 55,000 children return to school

Somme 55,000 boys and girls aged between 3 and 16 started their scholastic year today in Kindergarten centres and in government, Church and independent schools. 

The children are distributed across 101 state schools, 80 church schools and 55 private schools throughout the new scholastic year, according to the Department of Information.

5,578 members of staff will be responsible for 32,695 children attending state schools, including 124 individuals joining the teaching force and 1,469 Learning Support Assistants.

A number of teachers already started teaching course material in both primary and secondary schools on the first day.

No problems were reported by college principals in Malta and Gozo, but there were slight issues with student transport due to changes in service providers. There were some 11 cases reported of children who were not collected from their homes this morning.

The issue was resolved by the afternoon with all children returning home by state transport. The Directorate of Education ensured the situation will continue to improve by tomorrow morning.

The Education Department provided 13,691 state school students, including those with special needs, with transport to and from school. 516 journeys have to be made in order to ensure children arrive on time.

Minister of Education Dolores Cristina, accompanied by General Director of Educational Services Micheline Sciberras, visited the Hal Safi primary school, Naxxar Girls’ Learning Support Centre and Naxxar secondary boys’ school this morning to inaugurate the opening of the 2011 scholastic year.

“The education system is currently undergoing important reformations, some of which have already begun to prove successful whilst others will reap results over the next few years,” Cristina said.