The Government this morning welcome the report published by the European Commission ‘Key Data on Childhood Early Education and Care in Europe.’ The report says tha the free childcare offered in Malta, puts the country among other EU countries where this service is the most accessible.
The report mentions that other countries like Ireland, the United Kingdom and Luxembourg are among the countries that have the highest rate of fees for childcare.
Malta is among the few other European countries who offer free childcare to everyone, the report says, and that the majority of EU countries operate a system of subsidies, and the childcare is given free only to a small percentage of the country.
The Government launched free childcare from April this year with the aim of helping parents, especially mothers, return back into work. The initiative was extended to those parents who are studying to gain the skills needed for employment.
The Government said that Malta has a low rate of working women compared to other European countries and this policy helps to change that as more women are able to return to work.
In Gozo the centre is at ‘4 Footsteps Child Care Centre c/o Gharb Civic Centre, Triq il-Vizitazjoni, Gharb, Gozo GRB 1044, email gharbchildcarecentre@yahoo.com [1] or phone on 27320400, contact is Ms Victoria Sultana.