I would like to add my own opinion to the recent letters that have been published in The Malta Independent on whether parents who send their children to Church schools should be afforded the same tax benefits as those who send their children to private schools.

I believe that parents who send their children to Church schools are also “helping” the government by reducing the workload on government schools. If all Church schools had to close down, I do not think the government has the resources – physical and human – to deal with the thousands of children that would have to be given their education in state schools.

And therefore I do agree with those parents who have been writing in to say that those who send their children to Church schools should also be given tax benefits.

These benefits should, of course, not be as high as those afforded to parents who send their children to private schools, because the donations given to Church schools are much lower than the fees paid by parents of children in private schools.

But every little helps, and I do hope that the government will listen to these pleas.

M. Farrugia

Naxxar