A total of 52 boys applied in November for a place in the Church’s first year kindergartens for the scholastic year starting next September. There were 77 vacancies, leaving 25 places vacant, the Curia said.

The number of girls who applied for the first year kindergartens was 55. There were 91 places vacant, leaving 36 vacancies.

The number of vacancies will decline according to the number of siblings applying under the siblings criterion. Serious humanitarian cases are also accepted, again reducing the number of vacancies.

There could be mistakes in the totals announced, due to circumstances beyond the Church authorities’ control, the Curia said. In some cases documentation was still to be presented.