A childcare centre was inaugurated at Mcast this morning to offer education and care to children up till three years old.

“Family lifestyle has changed and, nowadays, the mother no longer stays home with her children. Women, more than ever, are furthering their studies and working,” Education Minister Dolores Cristina said before unveiling the plaque and inaugurating the Magic Wonders’ childcare centre at the Malta College of Arts Science and Technology in Paola.

She said that parents needed to be able to leave their children in a safe place when they went out to work and childcare centres were manned by professional staff. These did not offer just babysitting services but provided education and care to young children.

The Paola centre is co-funded by the European Union and will take 25 children, from newborn to three years. It will be open to sons and daughters of Mcast students and staff members as well as to children whose parents lived or worked in the area.