Childcare centres need to introduce a stronger educational element. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Just the “bare minimum” of childcare centre managers have the level of qualifications requested by standards regulating the sector, according to a White Paper released this week.

According to standards, a child carer must have a level 4 qualification, equivalent to a diploma and recognised by the Malta Qualifications Council. A manager must have a level 5 qualification.

The White Paper – which paves the way for the introduction of free childcare for working parents – quotes a 2012 study showing that just one of the 52 managers of registered childcare centres had a recognised level 5 qualification.

Six managers had no qualifications, 13 had qualifications that were not recognised by the MQC, 12 had recognised qualifications that were not related to childcare and 20 had a level 4 qualification.

The document points out that the standards came into force in January 2012. Consequently, 274 people working in childcare applied to be trade tested, that is to get the required qualifications on the strength of their experience.

Malta has the least educated work force in the early years with the shortest period of initial training

Of these, seven applied for a level 5. To date 39 applicants obtained a level 4, the document states.

While the situation may have improved over the past year, with the number of registered centres increasing to 73, the White Paper says: “Malta has the least educated work force in the early years with the shortest period of initial training.”

500– the number of children waiting to be admitted into a childcare centre

It is “imperative” that a tier of highly qualified practitioners is introduced to give direction to carers. The White Paper goes on to say that, when it comes to child carers, entry qualifications are low in Malta.

There were 77 child carers employed in the 12 Government centres with most having the necessary qualifications.

However, when looking at the 226 child carers working in the 52 registered centres, the data for 2012 showed that, while there was an increase in the number of carers employed – 178 in 2011 – there was a drop in carers who had a recognised qualification.

This showed “there is still some way to go to having all staff trained to the minimum level required”.

The document also points out that the number of students graduating with initial qualification does not seem to be enough to meet the demand and the Government experienced a shortage of qualified staff.

This issue was raised earlier this week with Labour Studies lecturer Anna Borg saying it was important to ensure the necessary trained staff was in place before free childcare was rolled out.

The Government argued “there are enough child carers to cope with an increase in demand” and that childcare centres were “heavily under-utilised”.

This under-utilisation also emerged in the White Paper that showed that the number of childcare centres currently stood at 73.

However, in spite of availability, the number of children who regularly spend a reasonable length of time at a centre suggests that the uptake is low, the document states.

A deeper look at the figures shows there are 500 children waiting to be admitted into childcare centres – 80 per cent of the children are waiting to find a place in Government centres.

“It would appear that the issue is one of affordability and not simply one of availability or supply according to the demand,” the document states as it goes on to add that six of the 12 government centres can grow to admit more children and employ more carers.

More emphasis on education

The split system that distinguishes between childcare centres, until children turn three, and kindergarten, up till the age of five, should be addressed, according to the White Paper.

When it came to childcare, more emphasis was put on care and not so much on the educational element as was the case with kindergarten.

“Having two distinct set-ups promotes a division not only of the service, but of a philosophy and vision about early years care and education,” the document states.

The White Paper also recommends making the registration of childcare centres compulsory and that mandatory professional development is introduced.