Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1216530
5 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 1 MARCH 2020 NEWS urban localities like Balzan, Lija and Attard. In the western region, 36% of students at primary level and 43% of those at secondary lev- el go to church schools. Overall in this region 51% attend either church or independent schools. Church schools which are sub- sidised by government and are officially free also have a consist- ent presence across the island, more than independent schools. In fact the percentage of students attending these schools ranges from 26% in the south harbour district, to 37% in Gozo. Independent schools peak in the north harbour region which includes relatively affluent local- ities like Swieqi and Sliema but also urban centres with a mixed social composition like Birkirka- ra and Qormi. In this region 23% of students at primary level and 20% of those at secondary level attend these schools. At pre-primary level 28% of students in this region attend private schools. Yet even in this region, students attend- ing independent schools are still outnumbered by those attending church schools and state schools. In general, private schools have a larger share at pre-primary lev- el. Even in the south harbour and south-eastern regions, a tenth of students attending Kinder 1 and Kinder 2 attend private schools. The only exception is Gozo which lacks such private facili- ties. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt State Church Independent 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 67.1% 49.3% 65.6% 46.6% 56.3% 68.2% 28.1% 27.7% 29.1% 36.4% 27.4% 31.3% 4.8% 23% 5.3% 17% 16.3% S Harbour N Harbour S Eastern Western Northern Gozo All region 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 53.3% 35.9% 10.8% State Church Independent State Church Independent 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 64.6% 45.1% 61.7% 45.2% 53.2% 53.8% 32.2% 34.6% 35% 42.6% 32.6% 46.2% 3.2% 20.3% 3.3% 12.2% 14.2% S Harbour N Harbour S Eastern Western Northern Gozo Secondary level Split by individual region State Church Independent 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 68.5% 50% 66.7% 49.4% 57.5% 62.6% 26.4% 27.1% 27.9% 34.9% 26.2% 37.2% 5% 22.9% 5.4% 15.8% 16.3% All region 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 57.1% 29.4% 13.5% State Church Independent State Church Independent 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 67.1% 49.3% 65.6% 46.6% 56.3% 68.2% 28.1% 27.7% 29.1% 36.4% 27.4% 31.3% 4.8% 23% 5.3% 17% 16.3% S Harbour N Harbour S Eastern Western Northern Gozo All region 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 53.3% 35.9% 10.8% State Church Independent State Church Independent 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 64.6% 45.1% 61.7% 45.2% 53.2% 53.8% 32.2% 34.6% 35% 42.6% 32.6% 46.2% 3.2% 20.3% 3.3% 12.2% 14.2% S Harbour N Harbour S Eastern Western Northern Gozo Primary level Split by individual region Secondary level Split by individual region Localities included in all regions SH • Cospicua, Fgura, Floriana, Luqa, Zabbar, Kalkara, Marsa, Paola, Sta Lucija, Senglea, Tarxien, Valletta, Vittoriosa, Xghajra NH • Birkirkara, Gzira, Qormi, Hamrun, Msida, Pembroke, San Gwann, Sta Venera, St Julian's, Swieqi, Ta'Xbiex, Pietà, Sliema SE • B'Bugia, Gudja, Ghaxaq, Kirkop, Safi, M'Skala, M'Xlokk, Mqabba, Qrendi, Zejtun, Zurrieq W • Dingli, Balzan, Lija, Attard, Zebbug, Iklin, Mdina, Mtarfa, Rabat, Siggiewi N • Gharghur, Mellieha, Mgarr, Mosta, St Paul's Bay G • Gozo