In submitting the National Audit Report for 2016, Auditor General Charles Deguara noted that the expenditure on Church schools incurred by the Ministry for Education and Employment (MEDE) almost doubled over a 10-year period, from €32 million to €63 million. He also noted there was only a three per cent increase in the student population.

Such a statement has certainly caught the attention of many, and with other statements indicating lack of documentation, raises the suspicion that something is amiss.

I fully support the role of the auditor and the invaluable work that is being done. Accountability of funds, especially public funds, is a very necessary safeguard in any organisation and society that wants to thrive and act according to the principles of justice, fairness and solidarity.

However, the auditor’s statement alone, and without a context, is misleading, to say the least. A simple comparison of the personal emoluments (salaries) for education personnel employed by the State, as published in the Financial Estimates 2007 and 2016, would already provide a better comparative yardstick. In 2007 this cost amounted to a €108 million and in 2016 it was over €196 million, which is more than an 80 per cent increase.

Staff salaries

There are several factors that account for the increase in costs in education. Student population is only one of them. First and foremost, the Public Service Agreement of 2011 brought substantial salary increases to practically all employees working in Church schools, as it did for those working in State schools. A teacher’s starting monthly salary of €1,256 in 2007 increased to €1,662 in 2016, a rise of 33 per cent.

The number of teachers in Church schools has also increased, from 1,071 in 2007 to 1,427 in 2016, a 32 per cent increase. This was only partially due to the increase in student population. It is more related to improvements in education. The introduction of science laboratory lessons in Forms 1 and 2, where students can see and carry out experiments, has meant a considerable increase in the number of teachers of science.

The introduction of vocational subjects (IT, Engineering, Health and Social Care and Hospitality) has also meant an increase in the number of teachers needed, hence more salaries to be paid. It is pertinent to point out that Church schools did not receive any State aid for the laboratories and workshops needed. We thank the parents of our students for their constant support.

The increase in the number of laboratories for both science teaching and vocational subjects has also meant an increase in the employment of technicians.

The introduction of mixed-ability teaching after the elimination of the Junior Lyceum and Common Entrance exams has led to smaller groups in the teaching of core subjects like Maltese, English and Mathematics. This again necessitates an increase in teaching staff.

The introduction of peripatetic subject teachers at primary level has given an impetus to the implementation of some subjects such as PE, drama and PSCD.

The introduction of support teachers in primary helps in the implementation of new subjects like IT and the use of tablets, where teachers need this support. The introduction of tablets for each child from Year 4 has also meant the engagement of a number of IT systems administrators.

We have also seen an increase in the number of heads of department, mainly at secondary level, and a minimal increase in the much-needed support of professionals like psychologists, social workers, youth workers, inclusion co-ordinators, etc. Actually we feel the need for more support from these professionals. They all contribute in helping students meet the challenges of today’s society.

Another substantial increase in Church schools is the number of learning support assistants. The allocation of LSAs to particular students in need is done by the Statementing and Moderating Panel of the Education Division. Church schools as such have no say in this matter.

We believe that we are giving back to the State every cent that has been given to us, and more

In 2007, Church schools had a total of 404 LSAs with a starting monthly salary of € 1,047. In 2016, Church schools had a total of 910 LSAs with a starting monthly salary of €1,662 – a 125 per cent increase in the number of LSAs employed by Church schools and a 31 per cent increase in their starting salary.

The ever-increasing amount of LSAs employed in the education sector has become a major national educational concern and has been examined by the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education in their external audit report ‘Educational for All’ of 2015.

Also, better conditions of work, like longer maternity leave and pre-retirement leave for employees, and the personnel needed to replace them, have contributed to the increase in expenditure.

Monthly reporting

The auditor also noted a lack of documentation and monthly records. The Secretariat for Catholic Education keeps track of each and every employee approved by the Education authorities. The Secretariat prepares the budget for each coming year and submits it to the MEDE by not later than July of the preceding year. It is on these workings that the estimated budget as published in the Financial Estimates is based. This means that the budget for 2016 was submitted to MEDE in July 2015, not July 2017.

The €62 million figure corresponds to the amount needed for the salaries of all approved employees in Church schools and the Secretariat. It does not include the contribution of the Foundation for Church Schools, nor does it include the 10 per cent overall contribution by the State to Church schools as per the Church-State Agreement. Apparently, not all the documentation was forwarded to the auditor.

It is with regret that the suggestion to keep monthly records was not implemented and that it has taken the NAO 16 years to highlight it again. Church schools are given their salary subvention individually every month and it would have been relatively easy to keep such a record. No wonder that we have accepted this suggestion immediately.

The Secretariat works out the budget and school payments on templates that were given to it by the Education authorities years ago. Additional staff are not included unless approved in writing by the Education authorities. Salary scales and other payments are similar to those in State schools, consequently employees can easily check what is due to them. We welcome any practical suggestion that enhances transparency and accountability.

Value for money

A look at the statistics published by the National Statistics Office over these last few years shows that at the primary level, on average, for every two teachers in a Church school, three teachers are needed in State schools. An average of four more students per class is also evident at the secondary level.

Having said that, it is also pertinent to point out that the results of students in Church school at the end of secondary education are quite high, as can be seen in the SEC results published by the MATSEC Board.

It is evident that Church schools contribute significantly to the Maltese educational system. We believe that we are giving back to the State every cent that has been given to us, and more. We are proud to be giving the nation good citizens with sound values.

We would like to thank past and present ministers of education and the education authorities for insisting on providing schools, State and Church, with the much needed personnel. We would like to thank all our personnel, parents and all those who support us in the many expenses and initiatives that are undertaken in Church schools.

Rev. Dr Charles Mallia is the Archbishop’s Delegate for Education and Head of the Secretariat for Catholic Education.