Early childhood education as a basis for later success: The Bundestag debated the first reading of a federal government bill on quality development in child day care. “Educational opportunities should be determined by the talents and abilities of the individual child” and not by the place of birth or family circumstances, said Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU).
Prien described the so-called Starting Opportunities and Quality Development Act as “the educational policy setting in this legislative period”. It enables more equal opportunities and “brings life back to the promise of advancement in our social market economy,” said the minister in the Bundestag. "This law opens up prospects for children and thus strengthens our democracy."
Language and development test for four-year-olds
Among other things, the draft law provides for the language and development level of all four-year-olds in daycare centers to be assessed. If a need is identified, appropriate funding should follow. Daycare centers in difficult situations should be specifically supported with additional staff. Measures are also planned for a better transition to primary school. The law would create “nationwide binding quality standards in day care for the first time,” said Prien.
The federal government wants to support the states proportionally in implementing the law and provide around 9.25 billion euros by 2034. In addition, additional federal funds for investments amounting to four billion euros will already flow by 2029. The states can also use money from the debt-financed special fund for this purpose. “Every euro we invest in early education pays off twice or threefold,” said Minister Prien.
Opposition: Funding is wrong
Criticism came from the opposition and associations about what they saw as the lack of funding for the projects. The Green MP Anja Reinalter explained that they expressly support the promotion of disadvantaged children. But the financing is “not right at all.” Federal funding should be halved in the future. From 2035 onwards, the federal government wants to “sneak out” of financing completely. "So you want to have more and pay less. Where can you get that?"
Sharp criticism of the planned cuts also came from the Left Party. The law will ensure “even more social cuts” by cutting federal funding, said co-parliamentary group leader Heidi Reichinnek. The total costs of the daycare system would increase every year. In Germany, there is also a lack of more than 300,000 daycare places and only 14 percent of all daycare centers have the full staffing levels recommended by scientists.
Associations are demanding more money
The German Children's Fund welcomed the plan to improve the quality of day care and "to provide all children with better educational opportunities, regardless of their social background." At the same time, the children's rights organization called for more financial resources and an improvement in the structural conditions in early childhood education.
“Quality cannot be ensured in the long term with less money and more tasks,” said the President of the Catholic Family Association, Ulrich Hoffmann. The fact that federal funding for daycare quality is gradually falling from currently around two billion euros to just under one billion euros does not fit with the growing tasks.
In Germany, education policy is fundamentally a state matter. The bill has now been referred to committees for further discussion. The committee for education, family, seniors, women and youth is in charge.
