Daycare centers in MV: There are still no fees, but demands are increasing!

Daycare centers in MV: There are still no fees, but demands are increasing!

The discussion about free child care remains a hot topic for the state government in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Loud Wismar.fm the red-red state government is reaffirming its course of resisting pressure from some municipalities to reintroduce parental contributions. SPD parliamentary group leader Julian Barlen described the decision as a financial feat, while Mayor Lars Prahler from Grevesmühlen specifically brought up a fee of 50 euros per month for daycare or after-school care places.

The demands for a fee regulation are not unfounded. They aim to cover the rising costs of personnel and energy and to better reflect the need for care. Despite these requests, Barlen believes that the free daycare is an achievement for families and ensures more equal opportunities in the education system.

Daycare care in numbers

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has invested significant resources in childcare institutions in recent years. The country is providing 467 million euros for childcare in the current year, which means an increase of 8% compared to 2022. Part of these funds goes towards financing the daycare contributions previously paid by parents. Education Minister Simone Oldenburg underlines the importance of these redeployments in order not only to promote but also to guarantee equal opportunities. These investments help create a fee-free educational landscape from crèche to school leaving certificate, as the Nordkurier reports.

• Betreuungsquote:
  • 59% der 0- bis 3-Jährigen
  • Nahezu 95% der 3- bis 6-Jährigen
• Insgesamt werden 117.470 Kinder in Kindertageseinrichtungen oder bei Tagesmüttern betreut.

However, the challenges remain. Municipalities and districts are becoming aware of increasing pressure due to a lack of tax revenue and increasing expenditure on personnel and energy. CDU parliamentary group leader Daniel Peters is calling for more support from the state, while the Greens under parliamentary group leader Constanze Oehlrich are pushing for more investments in the quality of childcare and smaller groups.

Applying for free care

For parents who want to benefit from free childcare, it is important to take action in good time. According to the requirements of [Familieninfo MV](https://www.familieninfo-mv.de/familienleistungmv/ contributionsfrei-kinderbetreuung/), applications for a needs test must generally be submitted three months before the start of care. The required documents include a completed application, current working time certificates from the parents and a confirmation from the Federal Employment Agency or the job center.

For financial support, parents can also apply to the responsible youth welfare office to cover the cost of meals. It should also be noted that a separate application for exemption from contributions is not necessary, as the responsible youth welfare offices pay the monthly space costs directly to the daycare providers.

Free child care remains a central issue in the political landscape of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The state government is consistently pursuing this path and is thus setting an example for more equal opportunities in education.