Minister for Education and Employment Owen Bonnici inaugurated the Foundation for Educational Services’ (FES) new offices. FES CEO Dermot Galea, as well as FES Chairperson Pamela Schembri and Permanent Secretary Francis Fabri were also present for the inauguration.
Minister Bonnici highlighted how FES has always been at the forefront in delivering educational initiatives and services that enable a better balance between family time and work. It was specifically created to assist children and parents alike in their educational development in an evolving society.
“Nowadays, FES is well-known. Thousands of children take part in three major national projects every year. These include the management of childcare centres, Klabb 3-16, and Skolasajf. The services have grown to such an extent that they necessitated the need for more spacious premises. This resulted in a move to the new Head Office quarters in Qormi, making the offices more accessible and enabling us to give a better service,” continued Minister Owen Bonnici.
FES Chairperson Pamela Schembri explained how, “Human resources are key for having a successful entity. HR plays an important role in developing, reinforcing and changing the culture of an organisation. This is one of the main pillars which makes the Foundation for Educational Services a success. Here, one finds a small but very dedicated team who works around the clock. It was thus imperative not only to attract good human resources, but also to provide a place where they can work comfortably. A modern site which welcomes everyone and which has been equipped for the exigencies of the Foundation.”
FES CEO Dermot Galea said; “The opening of these offices is an important starting point for our entity to continue to grow and also to have a place which we can call home. It is a place where we can continue to work, create new programs, and it is a necessary space to further train our employees. I feel that these new offices will give a new look to the entity, a look which it deserves.”
FES currently operates 13 childcare centres across Malta. All childcare centres are registered with the Department of Quality Standards in Education and follow the National Standards for Child Day Care Facilities and provide care for babies and toddlers aged between three months and three years. Our qualified childcare educators empower each child to learn through play in a stimulating environment with plenty of love and care. The programme of activities focuses on helping the child in the five domains of child development, which are physical, intellectual, language, emotional, and social.
Our childcare staff work hand in hand with primary caregivers and give them the opportunity to invest in their children’s future through positive learning opportunities, in preparation for their next step in life.
Klabb 3-16 is a non-formal educational programme offered as an after-school hours service in 30 centres around Malta and Gozo. Children between the age of 3 and 16 years benefit from the service all year round, including during scholastic holidays. Due to the increase in demand for the Klabb 3-16, FES will be operating two new centres as from this scholastic year ,which will be at the Qawra Primary School and at the Marsascala St Joachim Primary School.
Skolasajf is offered during school Summer holidays, and caters for children between 3-16 years. The service offers a core programme in the mornings, with extended hours available in selected centres for working parents. Offered in around 60 centres spread across Malta and Gozo, the service enables children to spend their holidays with their peers while engaging in fun activities that stimulate their creativity. Skolasajf offers non-formal education, including plenty of activities ranging from crafts, healthy cooking sessions, to guests visiting the centres, providing different workshops to working hand in hand with different partners and NGOs.