UM shares Horizon Europe SCIREARLY early education findings at EU Parliament

On 24 September 2025, the findings of the Horizon Europe project SCIREARLY were presented at the European Parliament, drawing attention to the importance of investing early to prevent school failure and underachievement. A special thanks to Hon. Peter Agius, Member of the European Parliament, and Mr Tristan Azzopardi for making this possible.

The project highlights evidence on the factors that protect against early school leaving, emphasising how quality early childhood education and care can provide the strongest foundation for lifelong learning and success. The University of Malta is proud to have contributed to this significant initiative through the expertise of Prof. Suzanne Gatt, Dr Rosienne Camilleri, and Dr Charmaine Bonello from the Faculty of Education. Their work forms part of a wider European effort to identify effective strategies that enable children to thrive, educators to strengthen their practice, and policymakers to take informed action.

Speaking at the Parliament, project representatives emphasised that early investment, based on robust evidence, has the potential to transform futures - not only for individual children but also for society as a whole. The University of Malta’s participation in this final conference highlighted the importance of investing more in high-quality early childhood education and care, as evidence continues to show that it represents the best opportunity for Europe and beyond to prevent early school leaving and underachievement.