Education Minister Opposes Longer School Days, Highlights Importance Of Children’s Wellbeing
Education Minister Clifton Grima has voiced his opposition to extending school hours, emphasising that decisions about the education system must prioritise the well-being of children.
Speaking to Times of Malta, Grima underlined the importance of family life in a child’s development and cautioned against changes that could disrupt the balance between school and home life.
“The education system should revolve around children’s well-being. If we prioritise other things, we would be making a mistake,” he said.
Grima stressed that children should have ample quality time at home with their families, warning against creating situations where children only return home to sleep. “
His comments follow the statement of PL MP Edward Zammit Lewis, who supported a proposal for longer school hours to better align with modern work schedules.
The suggestion came in response to a study commissioned by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE), which noted that Maltese childbearing generation needs to have at least three children per family for the population to increase.
The proposal sparked a debate locally as parents shared their thoughts on the matter and with many disagreeing with it and stating how this would not be helpful.