Around 4,000 boys and girls from State, church and independent schools participate in Skolasajf programmes every year together with around 300 students from University who are following educational and teaching courses, the Education Division said.

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Education, Youth and Employment, Frans Borg launched the 11th edition of the programme which offers opportunities to students to use their free time in the most productive way possible during the holidays.

Skolasajf 2006 begins on Tuesday 18 July and ends on Monday 11 September, with sessions held from 9am to 12 pm. Classes are open for fourth, fifth and sixth primary grades with the centres distributed around Malta and Gozo.

Mr Borg said that the theme chosen for this year is 'Together for the Environment'. Children who attend school with a facilitator will also be provided by this service at Skolasajf. Another programme is Klabbsajf for those students who need complementary assistance in literacy.

Applications for the Skolasajf programme may be obtained from the Education Ministry's website: www.education.gov.mt. Applications cost Lm5 for each child and should arrive not later than Friday 9 June.