university in Asia, University of Santo Tomas, is located in the Philippines. It is the largest single Catholic university in the world. The university was established by the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominican Order, on April 28, 1611. Europe Slovakia Education gained in these schools is equal to education gained in public schools. The purpose of Catholic schools—besides education and upbringing—is to give alternative content of education and upbringing, new methods and forms. Ireland Catholic schools in Ireland are state-aided, rather than state owned. Not all costs of operating, building, and maintenance are provided by the central government. Local communities raise funds, as well. Church groups in Ireland privately own most primary and secondary schools. Evidence indicates that approximately 60% of secondary schools pupils attend schools owned by religious congregations. United Kingdom England and Wales In England and Wales, Catholic schools are either private, and therefore funded privately through students' fees, or maintained by the state. Maintained Catholic schools are either Voluntary Aided, where 10% of the capital funding is provided by the Church, or Academies, which are fully state funded. The Catholic Education Service (CES) oversees education for approximately 840,000 pupils each year through its 2,300 maintained schools. In addition, some 130 independent schools have a Catholic character. The CES interact on behalf of all bishops with the government and other national bodies on legal, administrative, and religious education matters to: "promote Catholic interests in education; safeguard Catholic interests in education; and, contribute to Christian perspectives within educational debate at national level." They have refused to open any schools under the Free School programme due to the 50% Rule, which limits the number of places that can be reserved for Catholics. In 2009, Catholic schools in England comprised two-thirds of all religious secondary schools. Northern Ireland The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) is the advocate for the Catholic Maintained Schools sector in Northern Ireland. CCMS represents trustees, schools, and governors on issues such as raising and maintaining standards, the school's estate, and teacher employment. As the largest employer of teachers in Northern Ireland (8500 teachers), CCMS plays a central role in supporting teachers through its welfare service or in working parties such as the Independent Inquiry into Teacher Pay and Conditions of Service. According to the latest figures from the Department of Education, N.I. Statistics Branch 2006/2007, the number of pupils registered at school in