If you are intersted in moving to Malta with your family, be it for a short or long period, you can rest your mind with regards to finding the right child care and schooling system for your children. From here you can find out about all the information and the benefits that you may be entitled to when it comes to family matters:
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Free Childcare Scheme
Scheme Benefits
Launched in 2014, the Free Childcare Scheme aims to facilitate women's re-entry into the workforce during their children's early years. By offering childcare services while parents work or study, it ensures children receive early education.
The Free Childcare Scheme offers significant benefits for children whose parents are either employed or pursuing education. It encompasses:
- Parents in Work: This includes both parents or guardians engaged in employment, as well as single mothers, fathers, or guardians who are working and contributing to social security.
- Parents in Education: Both parents or guardians pursuing education leading to a recognised course, diploma, or degree are covered, including single parents in the process of education.
The scheme ensures that while parents work or study, their children have access to quality childcare services, thereby facilitating the parents' involvement in the workforce or education.
Eligibility Criteria
- Parents in Work: Refers to parents or guardians employed and paying social security contributions. This includes single parents who are working.
- Parents in Education: Applies to parents or guardians pursuing education leading to a recognised qualification. They must provide a statement of course attendance from their educational institution. For courses outside of the University of Malta, MCAST, or ITS, a statement of course recognition from the NCFHE (National Commission for Higher Education) is required.
- Single Parents: Applicants must provide evidence of their status, such as the child’s birth certificate or a legal document indicating full care and custody of the child.
- Fostering Parents: Applicants need to present an official document from the Fostering Board, along with additional supporting documentation.
- Extension to Non-Employed Parents: The scheme may also extend to parents who are not in employment due to terminal illnesses.
TCNs granted a residence permit under the Students Directive are not eligible for the Free Childcare Scheme unless they are in possession of an Employment Licence.
Application and more details here https://jobsplus.gov.mt/funding/free-childcare-scheme
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Education
Find out more hereChoosing a school
Moving country in the first place can be daunting for both you and your children. The school you choose for your children will play an important part in their settling down. If your children are over the age of six then they will probably have an opinion on where they want to go to school, so the decision as to where to send them will most definitely have to be made together.
It is important that you and your children get to know as much as possible about the different schools in Malta so that you can make the best choice for you. Below is a clear overview of the education system in Malta.
In Malta schools are divided into three categories: state schools, church schools and independent schools.
State schools are accessible to all students and can be found in all the main towns or villages in Malta and Gozo. Transport to and from school is also free, as are books and other school materials. Parents will, however, need to buy their children’s school uniform.
Both church schools and independent schools offer pre-primary to upper secondary education. Both types are regulated by the Ministry of Education..
As a rule, Church schools belong to the Catholic Church, and, thanks to an agreement with the government, do not charge school fees. The government covers salaries although parents will be asked to give an annual donation to help with school costs. School supplies and uniforms will need to be paid for by the parents.
International and other private schools
There are a good number of independent schools, and a fair number of international schools that care for foreigners in Malta. Parents pay school fees for these institutions and also need to buy school supplies, uniforms and pay for transport.
Specialist Schools
There are four special needs resource centres in Malta. These have specialist teachers as well as equipment and other resources for children with learning difficulties. The schools also help with the integration of children of all ages with special needs into mainstream schooling. For more information, click here.Useful information and list of schools
Here’s a helpful list of Independent schools, Church schools and State schools in Malta.
You’ll be pleased and relieved to learn that, since Malta is a bilingual country, both English and Maltese are spoken in the classroom and on the playground. English may not be your child’s first language but the fact that children in Malta speak at least two languages (many also speak Italian) will surely help your kids integrate better at school.
Admittedly, although on paper both English and Maltese are spoken at school, different schools tend to favour one of the two languages.
In state schools, the main language of instruction is Maltese, except for English lessons. Maltese tends to be the favoured language outside classes too.
In private schools, lessons are in English, except for Maltese. Students will speak a mix of both English and Maltese outside class, depending on what language they speak at home or what their peers speak.
Some parents of children who are not Maltese choose for their children to opt out of Maltese lessons, although they are usually welcome to attend.
Malta’s education system is very highly rated. While international schools cater to a variety of curricula, Malta mostly follows the British curriculum: children study a wide range of subjects and have mid-year and final exams.
The educational system is structured in four stages: pre-primary (ages three to five), primary (ages five to 11), secondary (ages 11 to 18) and tertiary education. Attending school is compulsory up to the age of 16.
The homework workload can be rather high. Senior school children can have between one to two hours of homework every day.
The Catholic religion is taught in classes but religion is not a compulsory subject for non-nationals. You can decide whether you would like your child to attend religion lessons. If you decide to opt out, then they can study or read in the library, for example
University
There is one University in Malta – the University of Malta, although a few foreign universities are being set up. UoM is one of the oldest universities in the Mediterranean.
Centrally situated in Msida, UoM is the highest teaching institution on the island. There is no university in Gozo and many Gozitans move to Malta to complete their tertiary education.
Some 11,000 students study at the University. Of these, some 650 are international students hailing from 77 countries. The University regularly hosts a large number of Erasmus and other exchange students. Similarly, many University students here get to go on exchanges to Universities the world over. Almost 3,000 students graduate annually.
The University offers a wide range of full-time and part-time degrees as well as diploma courses. The primary language of instruction at the University is English.
In order to read for a first degree at University you need to have the required ‘A’ level qualifications or equivalent. You can enter as a mature (over 25-year-old) student and the requirements for entry at this level are different than those for people under 25.
For more information about the University of Malta, click here
Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology
MCAST is a vocational education and training institution. Set up in 2001, the college has grown rapidly over the past few years and is now made up of 10 institutes located around Malta and Gozo.
Students can study a wide range of subjects, from agribusiness, to applied science, art and design, building and construction, business and commerce, community service, electrical and electronics engineering, information and communication technology, mechanical engineering and maritime studies.
The college offers 170 full-time and over 300 part-time vocational courses ranging from certificates to degrees, preparing students for careers in different sectors of the economy of for higher education.
The college collaborates closely with local industries to make sure that students get hands-on experience as well as gain the necessary contacts and exposure to the sector they wish to work in.
For more information about MCAST, click here
The Institute of Tourism Studies
The ITS – located in Ħal Luqa and with a branch in Gozo – provides training to students who wish to work in the hospitality industry. The organisation trains students aged 16 and over in various disciplines in the tourism industry. Courses include Hospitality and Tourism Management, Hotel Operations, Accommodation Operations, Travel Agency Operations, Travel and Tourism, and Tour Guiding.For more information about ITS, click here
Adult Education
Have you ever thought about learning German or brushing up on your sewing skills, or perhaps getting a qualification in marketing, or maybe learning how to garden professionally? JobsPlus holds courses for adults in Malta from business writing, to basic plumbing and entrepreneurship skills, as well as basic literacy classes and specific professional training.
Courses are taught both during the day and in the evening, and there is a special Night Institute for Further Education that offers various vocational courses for adults at night.
Because JobsPlus is a government service, most of the courses are free. So what are you waiting for? Find out what course tickles your fancy here
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School books, clothes, shoes, food, ballet lessons… the bills just keep adding up when you have children. In order to help you out as you bring up your children, the Government in Malta provides children's allowances calculated according to how much you earn.
There is a special allowance if you have a disabled child. To benefit from the Disabled Child Allowance you will need to present a doctor’s certificate and a medical panel will evaluate the case. The allowance covers your child until they are 16 years old.
If you are fostering a child you will receive a Foster Care Allowance. Any family, married couple or single individuals (in particular cases only), irrespective of their age, class, race and religion, can become foster carers if they undergo training and an assessment, and receive approval from the Fostering and Adoption Panel.
If you are pregnant you may be entitled to a Maternity Benefit from the Maltese Government or Maternity Leave Benefits from your place of employment.
To receive the Maternity Benefit you must be either unemployed or not taking Maternity Leave from your place of employment. You will need to apply for this allowance when you are in your eighth month of pregnancy or if you have given birth to a child within the last six months.
The Maternity Leave Benefit is for employed or self-employed women in Malta who have just given birth and are taking maternity leave.