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Birth drop in Bad Belzig: change in care causes worries!
Bad Belzig is struggling with falling numbers of children and reductions in childcare staff. Mayor calls for reforms.
Birth drop in Bad Belzig: change in care causes worries!
In Bad Belzig, a noticeable decline in the number of children is causing worrying developments in the area of care. The children's support association “We” from Brandenburg an der Havel, which is currently responsible for the after-school care center at the small elementary school in Dippmannsdorf, will be removed as the sponsor. This decision raises questions and concerns among teachers, educators, parents and, above all, children. Bad Belzig's mayor Robert Pulz suggests a re-municipalization of care in order to defuse the situation.
According to maz-online.de the necessity of this step is due to the austerity constraints of the in the Potsdam-Mittelmark district, which require a realignment of care. The forecasts show that at the start of the 2026/27 school year only 491 children will be cared for in Bad Belzig, which makes the future creation and securing of childcare places a challenge.
Personnel situation and change of ownership
Currently, six employees of the “We” association work to look after almost 100 children. In order to meet the care requirements, a proposal for more effective implementation in a uniform municipal sponsorship is presented. There is also the possibility of bringing in educators from the neighboring “Waldwichtel” daycare center to help out. This could continue to guarantee the quality of care, which Claudia Wipfli from the Left particularly emphasizes. She highlights the high level of acceptance of the “We” association, which was the first nature park after-school care center in Germany and whose quality many parents support.
Novelties are also announced by the sponsors. Katrin Hertel from the “We” association offered to take over the daycare center. This could be a solution to maintain proven care. Mayor Pulz, on the other hand, sees no need for a transfer of employees in a change. The discussion about the responsibility for city employees and their training remains central, and Gitta Wilzer calls for us to focus not only on numbers, but above all on the children.
A look beyond the city limits
However, the trend towards a declining number of children is not an isolated case. A similar decline can also be observed in Berlin. As tagesspiegel.de reports, the number of children supported in day care fell by 1.8 percent compared to the previous year. Public funding closely monitors how many children are actually cared for in daycare centers. The city may be faced with the challenge of closing individual daycare centers if occupancy is not guaranteed over the long term.
The situation in Bad Belzig therefore reflects a larger trend in the region. Decision-makers must deal intensively with these developments in order to meet the needs of families and ensure high-quality care.
It remains to be seen how things will develop. One thing is certain: the voices from citizens and the ongoing discussion about responsibility for the young generation are essential to finding sustainable solutions in Bad Belzig and beyond.