The Tuition and Feeding Subsidy Scheme for Children up to 4 years old was approved today by the Council of Ministers, following a proposal presented by the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare. The Plan is a programme drawn up by the late Minister of Labour and Social Security Zeta Aimylianidou and aims to strengthen families, reconcile family and professional life and provide equal opportunities for children up to 4 years old.
The Scheme provides for the subsidisation of tuition fees and meals for children up to 4 years of age through the direct payment to the crèches that will be included in the Scheme of part of the monthly cost of the children's attendance.
Beneficiaries of the Plan are families who have been approved for Child Benefit under the Child Benefit Laws for the year in which the school year begins, with at least one of the children being up to 4 years old at the beginning of the school year and taking into account the family income of the previous calendar year. Additional income criteria apply.
To implement the Plan, an amount of €16 million per year will be allocated and co-financed by the European Social Fund under the Thaleia Programme (2022-2025) and national resources. The monthly amount of the allowance is 80% of the food allowance, with a maximum amount ranging from €100 to €350 per month per child, based on family income, age of the child, family composition and school hours. Up to 16,000 children up to the age of 4 years will be able to benefit from the scheme. All the details of the Scheme will be announced at a press conference to be held in the next few days.
With the implementation of the Tuition and Feeding Subsidy Scheme for Children up to 4 years old, another Government policy aimed at strengthening families is being implemented, with the main objective of providing quality and multifaceted support to each child in need and balancing work and family life. The Government's aim is to narrow the gender employment gap by offering low-cost childcare and education, so that low- and middle-income families can provide it to their children on an equal footing.
At the same time, pre-school children are given the opportunity to have access to quality, inclusive early childhood education and care and to develop their skills and competences in safe environments.
(MCI)
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