A recent study by the Bertelsmann Foundation has highlighted growing concerns regarding the staffing levels and qualifications within early childhood education and care centers (Kita) across Germany. The study, titled “Precarious Professionality? Regional Disparities in the Qualified Staff Ratios of Kita Teams” reveals significant regional variations in the prevalence of this issue.
The research indicates a potential trend towards “deprofessionalization” characterized by an increasing reliance on personnel with limited formal qualifications. Many municipalities, facing budgetary constraints, appear to be prioritizing the maintenance of enrollment numbers over the employment of fully trained and experienced early childhood educators. This practice is leading to a decrease in the proportion of qualified staff within Kita teams, particularly in regions with tighter municipal budgets.
Christine Behle, a Vice President at Verdi, a major German trade union, emphasized the direct correlation between municipal financial situations and the availability of qualified staff. She stated that these disparities should not come at the expense of children’s development or the working conditions of those employed in the sector.
Verdi is advocating for substantial and sustainable financial support from the federal government and individual states to address this challenge. The union’s proposals include a nationwide initiative to bolster early childhood education training programs, as well as the establishment of a dedicated fund to expand and improve the infrastructure of children’s and youth facilities.