Church Schools Association established

A new association has been founded to represent church-run schools in Malta.

The Church Schools Association's (CSA) statute outlines its committment to offering professional and moral support to its members so that they may provide the best possible holistic Catholic education to all students who attend Church schools. 

The CSA also aims to begin working at strengthing its identity and its mission within the schools and to represent them on governmental and ecclesial committees. It also hopes to foster a culture of respect for cultural diversity as well working closely with educational entities for the benefit of students.

In the light of the establishment of the Church Schools Association, and of the existence since 2007 of the Independent Schools Association (ISA), at an Extraordinary General Meeting called specifically for that purpose, the Heads of Church Schools together with Heads of Independent Schools voted to formally dissolve the Private Schools Association (PSA), an organization set-up in 1951 to safeguard and promote the interests of non-State schools generally. 

Fr Jimmy Bartolo SJ, the elected Coordinator of the Church Schools Association, and Joe Gauci, President of the Independent Schools Association, agreed that the Church Schools Association and the Independent Schools Association reflected the need for two autonomous associations in representation of the distinct nature and needs of their respective Sectors.

Both however expressed their strong conviction that the existence of two separate organisations would foster and encourage greater collaboration between the two entities, and more effectively further the common interests of the two sectors on issues of mutual importance.

Bartolo and Gauci heartily thanked all those who, over the years, had shown great dedication and commitment as members of the PSA.

The other members elected on the Church Schools Committee were:

Fr Eric Cachia SDB (Assistant Coordinator), Fr Mark Ellul (Secretary), Ms Mariella Vella (Assistant Secretary), Fr Silvio Bezzina MSSP (Treasurer) u Ms Daniela Camilleri Sacco, Ms Mariuccia Fenech and Mr Reuben Mifsud (members).