A Dispute Over the Right to After-School Care for Elementary School Students in Germany
A dispute has emerged over the feasibility of implementing the right to after-school care for elementary school students in Germany. The German Städte- und Gemeindebund, an association of municipalities, has expressed doubts about the government’s plan to ensure this right for all first-graders by the 2026-2027 school year, with the goal of expanding it to all elementary school students by 2030.
André Berghegger, the association’s chief executive, told Bild newspaper that the right to after-school care would not be implemented uniformly across the country, even by the target year of 2030. He emphasized that the goal of providing after-school care is correct and is shared by municipalities, but a right that cannot be implemented uniformly will only lead to frustration among parents, which may result in municipal conflicts.
The second report of the German government on the care and education of elementary school students estimates a need for at least 271,000 additional after-school care places by the next year and up to 481,000 new places by 2030. The Städte- und Gemeindebund, however, anticipates a need for as many as 600,000 additional places.
Gerhard Brand, the chairman of the Bildung und Erziehung (VBE) association, fears that parents who are unable to secure an after-school care place for their child will direct their frustration at teachers, leading to a decline in the quality of education. He emphasized that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the right to after-school care is implemented in a way that is actually achievable.
The main challenge in expanding after-school care is the shortage of personnel. Many municipalities are seeking to fill the gap by involving non-profit organizations, churches and other groups in the provision of after-school care. Brand criticized this approach, stating that it would be more effective to provide pedagogical incentives that could actually benefit the children’s learning.
Another challenge is the shortage of space in schools, particularly in some eastern German states, where the building of new schools has been a long-term priority. In contrast, other states lack the necessary space, which cannot be quickly addressed due to the slow pace of school construction.