Kindergarten crisis in Thuringia: Families fight for survival!

Kindergarten crisis in Thuringia: Families fight for survival!

Thüringen, Deutschland - In Thuringia, the kindergarten landscape is faced with massive challenges caused by demographic change. In the past year, only 11,803 births were recorded - the lowest value since 1955. Forecasts indicate that the number of kindergarten children will decrease by about 17 % by 2030 before a small increase of 6.9 % is expected until 2042. This development not only affects the institutions themselves, but also on families, which are often dependent on the social infrastructure there in rural regions.

But what does that mean specifically for the young families in Thuringia? The closure of kindergartens, especially in rural areas, leads to longer travel routes and financial burdens for the parents. The Left Group therefore proposed measures to meet these challenges. For example, the convening of a commission is required to deal with the financing of daycare centers. This commission should bring together representatives from different areas to work on a solution after the state government has so far ignored a parliamentary decision.

financial perspectives and social infrastructure

A rethink in financing is urgently required. The child -related flat rate currently serves as the basis, but the left pleads for a changeover to facility flat rates. The aim is to maintain the daycare offers even in financial regions. A kindergarten moratorium is intended to help to avoid reservations and at the same time to cushion the loss of the social infrastructure caused by the closings.

In addition, Thuringia will be expected to receive around 220 million euros annually from the federal government in the coming years to expand the infrastructure, whereby some of these funds are to be invested in social institutions. The proposed transformation fund of 25 million euros is also intended to help create flexible spaces for kindergartens and to promote necessary conversions, especially in rural areas. This is particularly important because there are often no alternatives to daycare centers.

number of children and social trends

The development of births in Thuringia is part of a greater demographic change that can be observed in Germany. As the statisticians report destatis, 60 million people, 71 % of the population, lived in large city regions in 2022. Despite the overall increase in these regions and growth through migration, the challenge for rural areas is particularly great. Above all, the age structure of the population is changing: While young families in rural areas often worry about their existence, many younger people move to urban centers, which further intensifies the situation in the affected regions.

For the municipalities, it is often a wire rope act to manage these developments. City closures are not only a loss of childcare places, but also significantly affect the quality of life of young families. Everywhere it is discussed how the financial means can be distributed to support both daycare centers and other important infrastructures such as local public transport. The current situation shows that there is an urgent need for action to recognize the needs of families and create future prospects.