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Birth decline out of control: wave of daycare closures in southern Thuringia!
In southern Thuringia, the decline in births is leading to daycare center closures. Politics and families suffer from the challenges.
Birth decline out of control: wave of daycare closures in southern Thuringia!
Demographic development is making waves in southern Thuringia: the drastic decline in births by a third is causing an unprecedented wave of kindergarten closures in the region. Loud insuedthueringen.de Those responsible for politics are helpless to counter what is recognized as a growing problem. Federal politicians have now also declared that the closures can no longer be ignored.
Federal Minister for Family Affairs Karin Prien (CDU) has pointed out that the problem in the western German states differs from that in the eastern federal states. So far, the political debate has primarily focused on the expansion of daycare places in the west and in urban areas. Prien emphasizes that there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution for all regions, and action is clearly required here.
Daycare closures in Weimar
The situation is particularly acute in Weimar, where five daycare centers are to be closed, including facilities in the city center. How mdr.de reports, Jörn Engelhardt, father of three children, expresses concern about the situation: Parents who have moved to the city center and do not have a car often have difficulty finding alternative childcare options. This problem could also jeopardize the subsequent influx of young families.
The Bertelsmann Foundation highlights the important role of daycare centers for the social structure in cities and rural areas. According to Kathrin Bock-Famulla, the dismantling of daycare centers has potential negative consequences for the influx of young families. It is recommended to expand the structure of offerings in villages, for example by converting daycare centers into family centers or social meeting places. Steffen Kania is open to innovative concepts and mixed use of facilities.
Legal entitlement and challenges
In Thuringia, children have a legal right to ten hours of care per day, but not to a kindergarten place close to home. The wave of closures is hitting families in the region particularly hard and is another clear sign of the challenges that demographic developments bring with them.
The current situation shows that there is a clear need for action. It will be crucial to find a solution that not only meets the needs of current families, but also sustainably secures the future of the region. Families and politicians remain called upon to work together to find solutions and support the social infrastructure.