Early Childhood Education and Care - National Policy Framework for Malta and Gozo

CLOSED CONSULTATION

From:	Ministry for Education (Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education)
Published:	21 May 2021
Running till:	2 July 2021
Last Updated:	5 July 2021

1. Background

The development of society, economy and the environment, directly influence child development and consequently the wellbeing of tomorrow’s adults. The early years are the starting point for successful lifelong learning and are integral in addressing sustainable development goals. Investing in young children, safeguarding and realising their rights in practical ways and ensuring optimal foundations for their well-being, learning and holistic development fuels the need for a National Policy Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care. It is evident that the potential advantages of high quality ECEC are significant, far-reaching and long-lasting. The development and publication of this early years’ policy framework is a first step towards a comprehensive high-quality ECEC provision in a Maltese context. The aim is to address the fundamental need for a multi-sectoral response embedded within an integrated ECEC system. Additionally, this policy framework is being regarded as an opportunity to maximise young children’s development which will profoundly impact on children’s future learning, health and earning potential which can perpetuate intergenerational benefits. It will also contribute in addressing the G20 Action Plan on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2016).

Following on the European Commission’s Council Recommendation on High-Quality Early Childhood Education and Care Systems, which was adopted by the EU Member States’ Education Ministers in 2019, this National Policy Framework addresses five goals:

Each goal has been purposefully designed bearing in mind three overarching principles, which are considered equally important and for successful implementation:

2. Consultation Questions

Q1. Do you think that the most important goals for early childhood education and care are in the overarching 5 goals of the National Policy Framework?

Goal 1: Accessibility

Q2: Do you agree that education for children in the early years should be available and affordable?

Q3: What do you think one should consider if we put these accessibility goals into action?

Goal 2: Workforce

Q4: Do you agree with the goals for the early years’ workforce?

Q5: What do you think one should consider if we put these workforce goals into action?

Goal 3: Curriculum

Q6: Do you agree that the learning experiences of young children should be well-balanced, revolved around the children’s interests and caters for the children’s preferred way of learning?

Q7: What do you think one should consider if we put these learning experiences goals into action?

Goal 4: Monitoring and Evaluation

Q8: Do you agree that we need to know if young children are being well looked after, learning well and happy?

Q9: What do you think one should consider if we put the monitoring and evaluation goals into action?

Goal 5: Governance and Funding

Q10: Do you agree that Ministries, researchers and other stakeholders should join forces to sustain this early childhood education and care policy framework?

Q11: What do you think one should consider if we bring different stakeholders together to support the implementation of this National Policy Framework?

3. Documents

NPF Early Childhood Education and Care.pdf

Help viewing documents

4. Submission of input

The Ministry for Education would like to invite public entities, private sector, constituted bodies, civil society and individuals to assist the development of the National Policy Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care (0-7 years) by providing feedback in the form of answers to the above questions. Additional suggestions may also be put forward.

Feedback was received through:

You can find the questions by clicking on: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc00GyBOhmxfbTA4n3Yw6V8WyW7UxpIOCWuKC4YcrQAZZ2IAw/viewform

E-mail: ececpolicy.mfed@gov.mt

Post: ECEC Policy

Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education

Triq Joseph Abela Scolaro

Hamrun

HMR1304

Submissions were received by 2 July 2021.

We thank you for your input.

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