Some 1,035 children attend the six centres of Klabb 3-16 today, compared to the 156 children who attended the three centres available in 2009, education minister Dolores Cristina said when she visited the Mosta centre.

The aim of the centres is mainly to help parents, especially mothers, join the labour force by having the centres look after children aged between three and 16 years in a good and safe environment while the parents are working.

The clubs open daily from 2.15pm, when school ends, and remain open till 6pm. On days when schools do not open, the centres open from 7.15am to 5.15pm, even during the summer holidays.

The clubs are at Fgura, Birkirkara, Zurrieq, St Paul’s Bay, Mosta and Wied il-Ghajn.