Kindergarten crisis in Thuringia: Families fight for survival!

Kindergarten crisis in Thuringia: Families fight for survival!

In Thuringia, the kindergarten landscape is facing massive challenges caused by demographic change. Last year there were just 11,803 births - the lowest number since 1955. Projections suggest the number of kindergarten children will fall by about 17% by 2030, before a small increase of 6.9% is expected by 2042. This development not only has an impact on the facilities themselves, but also on the families, who in rural areas are often dependent on the social infrastructure there.

But what does this actually mean for young families in Thuringia? The closure of kindergartens, especially in rural areas, leads to longer journeys and financial burdens for parents. The Left Party has therefore proposed measures to address these challenges. For example, there are calls for a commission to be convened 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

There is an urgent need to rethink financing. The child-related flat rate currently serves as the basis, but the Left is calling for a switch to flat-rate furnishings. The aim is to maintain daycare offerings even in financially weaker regions. A kindergarten moratorium is intended to help avoid staff layoffs and at the same time cushion the loss of social infrastructure resulting from the closures.

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

Numbers of children and social trends

The development of birth rates in Thuringia is part of a larger demographic change that can be observed in Germany. As the statisticians from destatis report, by 2022 60 million people, i.e. 71% of the population, were already living in metropolitan areas. Despite the overall increase in these regions and the increase 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 fear for their existence, many younger people are moving to urban centers, which further worsens the situation in the affected regions.

It is often a balancing act for municipalities to manage these developments. Daycare closures not only represent a loss of childcare places, but also significantly affect the quality of life of young families. There is discussion everywhere about how financial resources can be distributed to support both daycare centers and other important infrastructure 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.

Given these challenges, it is even more important that all political decision-makers pull together to create a good environment for the next generations and to stabilize the social fabric in Thuringia. The coming years will be crucial when it comes to setting the course for the future development of the kindergarten landscape and society as a whole. Unforeseen events, such as the influx of refugees, must also be taken into account in the planning in order to be able to react flexibly and in a future-oriented manner.