Dispute in the Hessian state parliament about the future of language support in daycare centers

Members of the Hessian state parliament agree that children with speaking difficulties need to be supported as early as possible. However, there is disagreement when it comes to the question of the best language training. The Green MP Felix Martin called on the state government to stop the planned end of the “language daycare centers” at the end of the year and to continue financing the funding program for two years. This will ensure a seamless transition to a new, federally supported program, said Martin.

In the “language daycare centers,” specialists advise and support the daycare teams in language education. So far, the state has financed these additional language support staff in around ten percent of the daycare centers in Hesse. Martin explained that he had received a number of letters from concerned parents, daycare centers, specialists and trade unions. A daycare center director from Offenbach, for example, explained that the “language daycare center” program must be continued “absolutely” for the children’s language development.

FDP: Use resources where they are needed

FDP MP René Rock also emphasized: “There should be no gap in funding or personnel.” Simply extending the existing program for two years is not enough. Rock called for language support in daycare centers to be set up permanently “so that children start school with the best possible language skills.”

Learning is much easier in the first years of life, which is why the focus must be on early support for children. Rock called for comparable standards across the country for the early determination of need for support. “The challenges vary from daycare center to daycare center. Additional resources must therefore be used where they are particularly needed,” said the FDP education expert.

AfD parliamentary group demands legal right to language training

Gerhard Bärsch from the AfD parliamentary group recalled a proposal from his parliamentary group in June, according to which the “language daycare” program should be continued and expanded as necessary. There should also be a legal right to language support from the age of three and an annual language proficiency survey. Bärsch pointed out that the new funding from the federal government for language support in daycare centers was not yet a done deal.

Social Minister Heike Hofmann (SPD) explained that the state is developing language support for all children in all daycare centers with its own state strategy. Nothing will be cut; all resources were retained. The “Language Daycare” program supported 337 half-time positions for skilled workers, all of which remained in the system. “No jobs will be lost,” emphasized the minister. It would be fatal to wait for federal legislation. The country is acting now.

Minister: Every child should be supported

Hofmann explained that “language daycare centers” had done an excellent job in a phase in which the course for early childhood education had to be reset. The country stepped into the breach with investments worth millions when the federal government gradually withdrew from financing. However, the funds were distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and only around ten percent of all children were reached. It is therefore all the more important to expand language support throughout Hesse. “Every child should be supported in their language development,” explained Hofmann.