Three years of kindergarten

What is the difference? Labour got it wrong: In both the UK and Malta children start primary school at age five-six and leave school at age 15-16. The explanation is simple.

In the UK children attend nursery class at age three-four. This is followed by a reception class at age four-five and they then move on to primary school (Grade 1) at age five-six.

In Malta we have an identical organisation. The classes merely carry different names.

In Malta children attend Kinder 1 at age three-four (equivalent to the UK nursery class). They then move to Kinder 2 at age four-five (equivalent to the UK reception class) and ultimately they both start primary school at age five-six and leave school at age 15-16.

Over and above this, Labour is proposing a reception class after the two years of kindergarten which is equivalent to a repeater class and three years of kindergarten.

The current education system in Malta matches the one in the UK.