About 53,000 children attend kindergartens free of charge, 3,000 of which are in the private sector, the Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Welfare said on Tuesday.
Ana Méndez Godinho explained in the Parliamentary Committee on Labour, Social Security and Inclusion, where she was heard this Monday afternoon, that 1,871 kindergartens in the social and solidarity sector and 358 in the private sector are part of the free child care measure.
This measure began in September 2022 for children born after September 1, 2021 and attending kindergartens in the social and solidarity sectors, and from January 1, 2023, this measure was extended to the private sector.
Along with this, children whose parents belong to the 1st and 2nd income groups, regardless of their date of birth, have the right to a free place.
State Secretary for Integration Ana Sofia Antunes told MPs that more than 3,000 children attended kindergartens free of charge in February than in January.
Of the approximately 53,000 children, 48,577 are employed in the social and solidarity sector, the Secretary of State said, while the rest attend Santa Casa da Misericordia de Lisboa and private kindergartens free of charge.
Ana Sofia Antunes indicated that the number of children in free kindergartens in the private sector increased significantly between January and February, rising from 833 to 2,734.
The Secretary of State emphasized that at the moment he is “very close to filling 100% of vacancies in the social field.”
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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