the nationwide day-care centres have the same big Problem: There is a lack of staff. “The situation is dramatically bad,” says main Board member Björn Köhler of the education and science trade Union (GEW). “Actually, we’d need 100,000 people immediately, to work properly.”
The Federal Ministry for family Affairs has recognized the Need for a funding program announced: Minister Franziska Giffey (SPD) aims to support countries from the summer of 2019 to 2024, with around 300 million euros, in order to win more day-care professionals. “Especially in urban areas, serious shortages are partially recorded,” says a Ministry spokeswoman.
‘t accommodation in spite of nursery space
parents get the lack of teachers and educators, to feel. Nationwide day-care centers are lacking, the demand for a childcare place for children under three years of age is significantly greater than the supply. Particularly striking: According to WT-information not can get started in some facilities, because staff is missing.
But also parents who have a childcare place for your child, feel the staffing: nationwide, it is that daycare centers have to temporarily close, because there are cases when disease enough forces out there that can step in.
shortening of the periods of care due to staffing
In the lower Saxon small town of Achim, near Bremen, for example, a municipal institution of 2018 had such an injury crisis that daycare group had for several months, only until 14 o’clock instead of, as planned, up to 16 hours. “In addition, there were individual closure days – when I could not ensure the operation, because colleagues were sick,” says daycare Director Hannelore Mitte.
on several occasions it had only one emergency service. The reason for the Situation was that a teacher had quit and the other has not been accepted after the trial period. The search for a new skilled worker remained for months to no avail. “We have not found anyone,” says Mitte.
“There was a feeling of powerlessness and anger”
For parents, the sudden reduction of the care time and the closing days were a shock, as the then Chairman of the parents Advisory Board, Oliver Matthes, told. “That was catastrophic. It was a feeling of powerlessness and anger. Many parents felt abandoned by the city.” As a last resort parents initially took over in the afternoon, the care for the children in the facility. Later, mothers and fathers spoke in the circle of friends or organised care by relatives, who travelled part of the way. For Single-parent or socially Weaker, the Situation was particularly hard, says Matthes.
The explosiveness of the situation, the Figures for the town of Achim, for kindergarten-year 2017/2018 show examples: In 78 days, this nursery had to reduce with several groups, childcare services or close. “We know how hard it is for parents,” says Wiltrud Ysker, which is in Achim for the Department of education.
A nationwide Problem
and to find educators is difficult to educators nationwide, because there are too few skilled workers. The municipalities and cities to advertise to the staff and are often in competition with each other. “We are fishing in the same pond,” says Achim’s mayor Rainer Ditzfeld (independent) with a view to surrounding cities such as Bremen.
A reason for the drastic shortage of skilled workers in the trade Union GEW in the previous training situation. “A big Problem is the pay is,” says Köhler. An educator by course typically a four – to five years of unpaid training. In the past, many trainees had to pay even school fees. “This shows how our society has dealt with these Professions for many years. While other male-dominated professions have received appreciation, so the training fee, you had to bring in teachers training long years.” Now there is finally a change in thinking. “We need to make it clear, what is the value of the profession for our society.”
More students
The Federal Ministry for family Affairs relies on the funding programme, due for launch in mid-2019 will be paid. “It needs to be attractive, a start training, you have to complete and to remain in the profession,” said Minister Giffey recently. With the financial help of the Federal government, the training and working conditions should be improved. Part of this is that more apprentices receive a remuneration.
From the point of view of the WT is of the essence the time: The Union is convinced that Germany needs up to the year 2025 at least 300,000 additional teachers, in order to keep the present Standard. If Germany wanted to improve the quality, are likely to be around 500,000 additional skilled workers needed, says Köhler, refers to the fact that a large part of the women is in the day-care centres older than 50 years. A study for the family Ministry expects that by 2030 almost 200,000 professionals in kindergartens and primary schools are missing. Even if the Numbers of trade Union and Ministry are not that far apart: the seriousness of The situation is clear.
