Kelly’s husband passed away a few months ago after he was involved in an occupational accident. Her eldest son, aged six years, attends the local primary school but her two-year-old is too young to go to school.
A month ago Kelly (not her real name) gave birth to a beautiful daughter but she is struggling to juggle between caring for her little ones, working and keeping up with the challenges life is posing. A social worker helped Kelly enrol her younger son in a childcare centre and she is looking forward to enrol her daughter as soon as she turns three months. She feels that her children would gain more than if they were to stay at home and at the same time she can earn a living to support them.
Kelly was one of many mothers who attended yesterday’s opening of ‘Il-Bejta’ childcare centre in Cospicua, which their children attend. At the moment, 22 children aged between one year and two months and three years attend the centre, SmartKids coordinator Alexia Spiteri said. Priority is given to children who have particular social situations and some 500 children are currently attending in centres at Cospicua, Vittoriosa, Birkirkara, Siggiewi and Qawra. Another centre is expected to open in Pembroke in the coming months. Children as young as three months can attend in the centres, depending on the number of carers and facilities available.
Early education is considered as the most important in life and crucial to ensure that children’s future is based on strong foundations. Childcare centres of the highest quality are an opportunity for children to develop their abilities in a healthy manner and from a young age.
They will also serve to increase the rate of women in employment as they can put their mind at rest that their children are receiving the best attention they can receive in an educational environment.
Speaking during the opening of ‘Il-Bejta’ childcare centre, Parliamentary Secretary Clyde Puli mentioned that the SmartKids programme is just one of many others that were created last year to cater for an educational renewal in the Cottonera region. These programmes are giving concrete results he said as a good 50 per cent of children achieved good results in their junior lyceum exams.
A number of stakeholders, namely the Santa Margerita College, the Education Directorate, the Education, Employment and Family Ministry, Appogg welfare agency, Foundation for Education Services and Cospicua Local Council came together to work on a strategic plan to address problems that were worrying parents, educators and politicians alike, said Mr Puli.
In his address, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi referred to the Cottonera as an area with high potential and hoped that the newly opened childcare centre would continue contributing to the regeneration in the region.