Early childhood learning

A public lecture focusing on "Early Childhood Education: Use of and satisfaction with child-care and small Kindergarten centres in Malta" is being held at the University of Malta on Thursday from 5.30 to 8 p.m. at the New Gateway Building, Hall E.

The aim of the lecture is to present research findings from a study conducted by Dr Valerie Sollars, senior lecturer in Early Childhood Education at the Faculty of Education. It presents data from 10 child-care centres and 13 small, private Kindergarten centres.

The results obtained summarise the views of the service providers as well as the feedback from parents who participated in the study through the completion of questionnaires.

Information about the use of such centres and issues related to choices, information available and level of parental satisfaction will be discussed.

The presentation should be of interest to parents, personnel who are entrusted with the care of very young children and policy makers. Reactions to the report will also be given by the Minister of Education, Dr Louis Galea, Mrs Helen D'Amato, who chairs Parliament's Social Affairs committee and representing the Ministry of Social Policy, and Maelis Karlsson-Lohmander, director of the Early Childhood Research and Development Centre at Goteborg University, Sweden.

The event is being held under the auspices of the Department of Primary Education within the Faculty of Education and the Socrates Office of the University of Malta.