Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1499169
10 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 MAY 2023 JAMES DEBONO CHILDREN who are not Mal- tese nationals are a majority in six State primary schools, and account for over one-third of the population in 11, according to data tabled in parliament. Foreign pupils now account for over 20% of the population in 21 State primaries. The largest percentage of non-Maltese students is found in Sliema (66.5%), which hosts a large non-Maltese workforce, followed by neighbouring Gzira (65.8%), and then Qaw- ra (65.3%), St Julian's (62.2), St Paul's Bay (59.9%) and Msida (53.3%). The concentration is typical in the harbour area of towns that tend to house high-income foreign nationals, and in the northern towns of St Paul's Bay and Qawra where low-income foreigners seek out cheaper rental accommodation. In Gozo the largest percent- age of non-Maltese is found in Żebbuġ (45.3%), which also in- corporates the locality of Mar- salforn. In the south, the locality with the highest percentage of for- eigners is Marsaskala where they account for 46.2% of stu- dents attending the two prima- ry schools. But the only other locality in the south where for- eigners account for more than one-fourth of the student pop- ulation is Birzebbugia, where 28.3% are non-Maltese. In the harbour area, the larg- est percentage of non-Maltese pupils is found in Ħamrun where they account for 26.6% of the population in two pri- mary schools. Foreigners also account for just over a fifth of students in Marsa. In contrast foreigners account for only 4% of students in Bormla's prima- ry school. The statistics reveal a sharp division between urban north- ern localities and the southern villages, where non-Maltese pupils account for less than 10% in 30 primary schools, and less than 5% in 11 rural and southern localities. The smallest percentage of non-Maltese students is found in Mtarfa (1.1%), Qren- di (1.7%), Bahrija (1.9%) and Dingli (2%). In Gozo the small- est percentage of foreigners is found in Kercem (2.7%). This suggests that while many students are exposed to a mul- ticultural reality in major urban centres, this is not the case in several smaller villages where most students are Maltese. And populations in Sliema Non-Maltese pupils now majority in six State primaries Nearly 65% of pupils in Sliema, Gżira, Qawra and St Julian's are non-Maltese, with data showing divide between north's urban multiculturalism, and southern, rural villages The Qawra primary school has a foreign student population of 65.3%, making it one of six localities where foreign students are now a majority