Bundesfamilienministerin Karin Prien (CDU) noted that, just before the full‑day care right for primary schools comes into force, several issues remain unresolved.
She said the expansion is moving in the right direction and that the number of available seats in schools and kindergartens is increasing noticeably. Yet, the survey she cited highlights persistent regional challenges, especially in terms of space, qualified staff and financing.
Prien emphasized the close cooperation between the federal government, the Länder and the municipalities. The aim is to ensure that places are provided in a tailored and reliable manner and that the quality of the offerings is continuously strengthened.
A fresh Forsa poll commissioned by the Association for Education and Teaching found that one in four primary schools feared the right to full‑day care for first‑year pupils would not be fully implemented from the autumn that year. The most frequently mentioned obstacles were insufficient rooms, a shortage of personnel, and a lack of funds.
The federal and state governments had agreed on a phased rollout of the new right. From the upcoming school year the regulation will apply to first‑year children, and starting in 2029/2030, to all grade levels of primary schools. By the end of the decade, the plan aims to guarantee a place for every child, funded for 40 hours of instruction per week.