One of the major signs of a caring and sensitive community is the way it treats its animals. Our little island has emerged as a highly developed animal-loving community championing their welfare with laws, regulations and special clinics.

Without in any way belittling the sterling work done by volunteers in the animal welfare field, I feel this benevolent attitude should run parallel with the prevention of cruelty to very young children. It is ironic that no institution, not even a parents’ association, has taken the initiative to put an end to the practice of waking up children at 5.30am on school days in order for them to catch their school bus.

Such a situation is surely having a long-term negative psychological effect on children’s mental deve­lopment. Very often children return to an empty home as the number of working mothers is on the increase. What is needed is a suitable timetable that is compati­ble with the working hours of mothers and grandmothers.

Such a situation cannot change overnight as the terms and conditions of service of teachers have to be respected. However, the Education Ministry should set up a task force to propose changes in the long term.

This task force should also take into consideration future educational trends, immigrant children and the fact that more and more mothers and grandmothers are working.

I believe that the European Union policy to increase the number of women in the labour market does not take into consideration the importance of having mothers in the home at least until children are five years old.

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