The Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare is introducing changes to its tuition subsidy scheme for children over four years old, as part of its commitment to support free preschool education.
According to Christos Diomidous, Allowance Management Officer at the Deputy Ministry, the age limit for inclusion in the subsidy scheme has been reduced this year to four years and five months, down from four years and six months previously. This limit will continue to decrease by one month each year until the full implementation of free preschool education for all ages.
A significant change is the removal of the requirement for a child benefit allowance to qualify for the scheme. Now, all children aged four years to four years and five months are eligible for the subsidy, regardless of whether their parents receive child benefits. The subsidy amounts to €130 for attendance at community kindergartens and €200 for private kindergartens.
“The goal is to provide substantial support to families,” emphasised Mr. Diomidous, noting that the measure facilitates the balance between family and professional life. “Parents will not need to stay at home to take care of their children, allowing them to enter or remain in the workforce and enhance the family income.”
He also referred to significant changes in the child benefit scheme. Beneficiaries have already increased by 5% a few months ago, while families with five or more children no longer face income or asset criteria, making them automatically eligible.
For other family categories, Mr. Diomidous mentioned that the public consultation process has been completed, and the study of responses and preparation of the bill are underway. The aim is to include the entire middle class in the child benefit scheme, with significant increases in income criteria to cover many thousands of new beneficiaries.
“We hope to be able to announce the good news by the end of the year,” he concluded.
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