Berlin The need for daycare places is still very high, especially in the western federal states. In big cities there are extensive waiting lists. Parents have to go to great lengths to get a childcare place. In every second day-care center, the shortage of skilled workers prevents greater occupancy and an improvement in the care rate.
These are the findings of the current day-care center report by the Paritätischer Gesamtverband, which was published this Monday. The basis is a survey in which more than 1,000 day-care centers from all over Germany took part last year. The situation in Germany’s daycare centers is therefore “extremely tense”. Deficits were found in all areas of early education, upbringing and care.
Specifically, more than two-thirds of the educators surveyed are of the opinion that the number of day-care places for children at the municipal level is insufficient. 60 percent assume that they cannot meet the children’s needs with the current staffing ratio.
In addition, there is a lack of time for the instruction of trainees, a lot of overtime and the compensation for absences of other employees due to illness, vacation or further training. The report goes on to say: “Staff turnover is high, recruiting qualified personnel is very time-consuming, and there are only a few suitable applications for job applications.”
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According to the survey, day-care center financing is also problematic. New and replacement purchases are hardly a matter of course. More than a third of the institutions surveyed also state that the planned financial resources are not sufficient to provide the children with a balanced diet.
Particularly alarming: Especially where many children grow up in poverty or are dependent on special support, the day-care centers also complain about poorer equipment.
Funding program may expire
The general manager of the Paritätischer Gesamtverband, Ulrich Schneider, says: “The findings of the day-care center report are shocking.” to enable the carefree childhood possible.”
The report also provides findings on the consequences of the corona pandemic: The opening hours in almost all day-care centers have been reduced, in around 36 percent of the cases by at least two hours a day. As a result, the educators perceived a connection between a lack of care and negative child development, for example in cognitive, motor or language skills.
The report is also explosive because it examines the effect of the “Good Daycare Act”, which was initiated with great ado by the then Federal Minister for Family Affairs Franziska Giffey (SPD).
As a result of the law that came into force in 2019, a total of 5.5 billion euros will flow from the federal government to the states by the end of this year. With the funds, the federal states were able to relieve parents of daycare fees and improve the quality of care, for example through a better skilled worker-child ratio, longer opening hours or more language support.
Demands have been coming from the federal states for a long time to continue the subsidy payments beyond 2022. The concern here is that otherwise we will be left with the costs of quality development.
So far, however, Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) has not presented a draft law to continue the Good Day Care Act. So it’s likely to be tight to refer the matter to the Bundestag before the parliamentary summer recess – if an extension comes at all.
The Bavarian Minister of State for Family Affairs, Ulrike Scharf (CSU), recently said after a conference of youth and family ministers in Berlin: “We really need planning security for our employees, for our specialists about further financing.”
So far, the Green Federal Minister for Family Affairs has not presented a draft law to continue the Good Day Care Act.
(Photo: dpa)
In the decision of the conference, the family ministers also pointed out the special burdens for children and young people caused by climate change, the war in Ukraine and the corona pandemic. They therefore need more support than previous generations.
“continue” or “further develop” law
Last week, Minister Paus also presented current figures from 2021 on the expansion and need for childcare. Here, too, it was clearly shown that the need for childcare continues to exceed what is available in all age groups. With regard to childcare places for children of primary school age alone, the demand from parents is almost a fifth higher than the actual supply.
Paus said that the Good Daycare Act should be “further developed” and converted into a “Quality Development Act” with nationwide standards. The coalition agreement between the SPD, Greens and FDP states that the Good Daycare Act should be “continued” and converted into a new law by the end of the legislative period.
The Paritätische Gesamtverband demanded that the federal, state and local governments participate permanently in quality development in child day care. “Sustainable agreements and commitment” are required.
In addition, the training capacities would have to be built up and expanded. This also requires the complete abolition of school fees, the payment of an appropriate training fee and sufficient time for practical instruction. In addition, the opportunities for lateral entry would have to be expanded.
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