Schooling in Malta - All you need to know about schooling in Malta - Part 2

Schooling in Malta 
All you need to know about schooling in Malta

VI. Education in Malta

1. Pre-school (0-3 years)

• The government provides free childcare for children aged 3 months to 3 years if both parents are employed or in education. The hours provided are equivalent to the hours of employment/lectures. You will require a letter from your employer/educational institute.

• There are lots of centers across the country.

• There are also private childcare centers available.

• Choose one that is registered with the Department for Social Welfare Standards

2. Kindergarten Education (3-5 years)

• Kindergarten is free (but not compulsory) for children from age 3 until primary school starts at age 5 in state schools and at a cost in church schools and independent schools.

• Most parents in Malta choose to enroll their children.

• Register as early as you can because places fill up fast in popular locations.

3. Primary (5-10 years) and Secondary (11-16 years) Education

State Schools

• The state school system is free and textbooks are mostly provided.

• You will only need to pay for uniforms, stationery, and school trips.

• Primary schools are for ages 5 to 10, followed by secondary schools from 11 to 16, and post-secondary

education until age 18+. Teaching is done primarily in Maltese with some obvious exceptions such as learning other foreign languages.

• There’s a state primary school in most towns and larger villages across the country. Secondary schools are usually only in larger towns.

• One unusual part of the system is that state schools are organized into ten ‘colleges’ with each one responsible for a number of schools in particular locations. For instance, St. Clare College (Kullegg Santa Klara) consists of the primary schools in Gzira, Pembroke/Swieqi, San Giljan, San Gwann, and Sliema, as well as Pembroke and Sliema Boys’ Secondary Schools

Klabb 3-16

• Klabb 3-16 is a national program catering to learners during after-school hours in state schools only. It is an after-school service that runs between school dismissal time and 18:00 hours, subject to demand.

• The service provided by Klabb 3-16, is also extended to offer service users an educational experience during school holidays.

• Only those service users whose parents/guardians are in employment or following a registered course are eligible to apply for the service during school holidays.

• During this period the service is offered from 07:00 hrs till 17:30 hours subject to the booking form issued by Head Office and demand for service. 

Catholic Church Schools

• Church schools require donations from parents.

• You can expect to pay between €150 - €600 a year per child.

• You will also need to pay for uniforms, stationery, and school trips.

• They are generally single-sex although there are moves to make them co-ed.

• These church schools are accessible by ballot only.

• These schools tend to have a long waiting list and siblings of children already attending the school, do get priority.

• Church Schools usually use both English and Maltese as the preferred language for teaching and communicating. 

Independent Schools

• As you would expect, private schools charge fees that are not refundable.

• Fees are on average € 3,750 per year per child at the primary level but vary considerably between schools and also between the school years.

• You will also need to pay for uniforms, stationery, and school trips.

• They also teach mostly in English. 

International Schools

• Verdala International School in Pembroke, which offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma program as well as Cambridge IGCSEs

• QSI International School of Malta in Mosta which offers the Advanced Placement International Diploma and also supports curriculum preparation for the IGCSE

• St. Edwards College for boys in Birgu/Cottonera which offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Co-Ed Program and SEC O-levels or IGCSEs.