Adults who received early childhood education are more likely able to find employment and commit fewer crimes, he added when speaking during the 14th annual conference on quality in early childhood education, being held at the New Dolmen Hotel.

Children who participate in quality educational programmes require less special and remedial education and demonstrate higher achievement in mathematics and reading later on in life.

A high level of stimulation with books and talk can mean that a child will possess a 20,000-word vocabulary by age five, as against the 5,000 word average that children who are not often engaged in language have.

Dr Galea said that studies also show that children from low-income families reap the greatest benefit from high quality early childhood educational programmes. It is therefore crucial that this form of service is provided for all.

He added that in October 2003, there were 4,758 children attending state kindergarten schools. In all, there are 64 kindergarten centres in Malta, and the service is provided free of charge by the state. Although this is not compulsory, it is estimated that about 98 per cent of children in this age group attend kindergarten schooling in state, Church or private schools.

It is also interesting to note, he said, that due to labour market changes and new lifestyle options, a number of childcare centres are sprouting all over the islands. The national action plan for employment, published last month, recommends that working parents of children aged below three should be granted capped assistance in the purchase of childcare services from a registered childcare provider.

This measure has been suggested to facilitate further gender equality in the world of work, as well as to recognise the benefit sound early childhood educational programmes can have on children.