PN raises concerns over childcare standards, urges investment
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
MP Albert Buttigieg suggests parents should get paid to keep children at home instead of childcare. The number of childcare centres has increased sharply.
The Shadow Minister for Child Protection has called for greater investment in infrastructure and training in childcare centres as concerns grow over quality standards.
In a social media post, MP Albert Buttigieg said the PN is calling not only for the enforcement of current policies but also for improved standards that provide a higher level of quality in these centres, both in terms of physical infrastructure - with larger and more open spaces in these centres - as well as in terms of service quality and staff training.
He proposed financial incentives for companies to set up smaller childcare centres within workplaces, financial aid to improve the infrastructure of those already in place, and more training for those seeking employment in the sector.
Furthermore, he suggested that instead of parents sending their three-month-old children to centres, those who choose to remain at home with them should get a payment from the government.
He said payments should be provided for a full year to those who choose to stay with their children instead of sending them to a childcare centre.
While acknowledging that childcare centres have had a positive impact, Buttigieg said the PN was calling “for the necessary steps to be taken to ensure that, while parents go to work daily, they also have peace of mind that their children are not only in a safe and suitable environment, but also in the hands of trained workers, and that children are given the necessary attention.”
He said this was particularly relevant for infants as young as three months who may be placed in such centres.
Concerns about the quality of childcare have been highlighted in recent weeks. During a presentation to parliament's Family Affairs Committee, the Department for Quality and Standards in Education (DQSE), which regulates education standards, reported a number of shortcomings.
The department found that 70 per cent of inspections carried out in childcare centres in 2023 identified breaches in carer-to-child ratios.
It also reported other issues, including children being kept in chairs for extended periods, carers with only basic levels of education, and high staff turnover.
The number of childcare centres has increased sharply, rising from 98 in 2016 to 195 in 2023, with more expected to open.
Malta introduced a free childcare scheme in 2014, providing services for children aged between three months and three years whose parents are working or studying.
Earlier this year, the government announced a €276 million agreement with childcare service providers to keep services free of charge. It also said that child carers with at least a basic level of Maltese would receive an annual allowance of €520.
Separately, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Dialogue and Accommodation Andy Ellul announced recently that a process to strengthen maternity, paternity and parental leave, as well as remote working arrangements, had been launched as part of a broader reform aimed at improving work-life balance.
Last year, the opposition proposed that families should receive a full year of paid leave, combining maternity and parental leave, to better support parents balancing work and family obligations.
The PN has also recommended extending parental leave from eight to 28 weeks.
(This article was published on Times of Malta – 31 March, 2026)