Constructing a curriculum for early childhood education in Malta – the value of play for learning

Abstract

The history and development of early childhood education in Malta is as yet to be written and documented. State KG for 4-year-old children has been available since 1975 and provision for 3-year-olds was introduced in 1988. Within the last 15 years, several small, private KG establishments were also set up, generally by individuals who had large premises available and could afford to transform them into small schools. Church and independent private schools also offer placements for young children. However, in spite of these, establishments, a formal, official curriculum for these early years was never available. From time to time, guidelines have been issued by the Education Division. This Division is the authority responsible for licensing and regulating what goes on in schools. However, the programme offered children has largely been determined by parental demands and expectations as well as the personal decisions of service providers and their employees. With the introduction of the new National Minimum Curriculum, which is on the way to being implemented, the early years settings have been recognised as requiring some clear articulation about the aims and objectives that should be achieved during these two years prior to the initiation of formal schooling.