Parents in Radebeul are fighting: Kita Guter Hirte is on the verge of extinction!

Parents in Radebeul are fighting: Kita Guter Hirte is on the verge of extinction!

There are a few things that are important to parents in Radebeul: the closure of the “Guter Hirte” daycare center is causing excitement and incomprehension in the community. With an online petition that has already collected over 1,174 signatures, many parents campaigned for the preservation of this popular facility. The decision to close was announced at a parents' evening in February and has been the subject of lively discussions ever since. The plan is to close the daycare center in the summer of 2026, which many parents find incomprehensible.

A look at the background shows that the sponsor, Kinderarche Sachsen e.V., is acting due to a sharp decline in the number of births in Radebeul by over 40 percent in recent years. Three daycare centers in the city have been closed since 2022, while the total number of childcare places is expected to fall from 1,995 to 1,460. This leads to rooms being empty - a reality that affects many daycare centers in eastern Germany, as observations from other regions make clear zdfheute reports that....

Fears about the future of the daycare center

A central point in the discussion is the popularity of the “Good Shepherd” daycare center. This facility, which offers space for 45 kindergarten and 15 after-school children, has a Christian concept and is in great demand. Registration numbers regularly exceed space capacity, which makes it clear to the provider that there is a need. This leaves many parents wondering whether the economic arguments for the closure are really valid, especially since parts of the concept are to be transferred to other locations mdr reports that....

With the closure of the daycare center in sight, the after-school children are also facing a change. From summer 2026, they will be accommodated in the “Riesenzwerge” daycare center, with cooperation planned with the Schiller elementary school in order to shorten the children's journey to school. However, many parents wonder whether this is really the best solution.

A strong parental commitment

The commitment of the parents is obvious. The parents' initiative asked for a conversation with Mayor Bert Wendsche, but instead appointments were arranged with the Second Mayor Silvio Kockentiedt. This was considered inadequate by the parents. The managing director of the Children's Arche Saxony and the head of the Office of Education were also present when the petition was handed over, which was not what the parents wanted. City spokeswoman Ute Leder explained that the mayor was unavailable for work and the petition was handed over to the city - although not to the council of elders, but to the children's ark for processing. A reply letter to the petitioners is already in progress. The daycare activities, such as carnival or an Easter breakfast, are continuing for the time being, although the parents want to continue to fight to keep their daycare.

The shedding light on the dwindling number of children creates a context that not only affects the situation in Radebeul, but also many other daycare centers in eastern Germany. Changing demographics are making it difficult for establishments to survive, which has already led to closures in many communities zdfheute reports that.... In Radebeul, however, a strong parent community is committed to their children and the future of their daycare center.