Kitas in Suhl: gentle fusion or silent farewell? Parents are concerned!

Kitas in Suhl: gentle fusion or silent farewell? Parents are concerned!

In Suhl, there is a significant change in the area of ​​early childhood education. The ThePra-Landesverband has launched plans for the merger of two kindergartens to better cope with a clammy budget. The Kindergartens Tausendfüßler and Auknirpse are to merge at the location of the thousand feet in Auenstrasse for a new facility that will bear the name Auenfüßler and a thousand grinding. This restructuring is referred to by the city as a "gentle fusion", while parents and specialist staff comment on the impending closure [Enterthuringen] .

The city council has spoken out in a majority in a name for a strategy paper for daycare planning from 2025. It is striking that no votes have been given, only two city councilors of the free voters have included. The daycare centers are under pressure because the financial pressure on the municipalities is growing. Thuringia's finance minister Katja Wolf has made it clear that an improvement in the personnel key in kindergartens is not intended, since the cities are already heavily burdened [MDR] .

financial burdens and demographic challenges

Especially in regions such as Saalfeld, kindergarten costs make up a significant part of the household; Up to 25 % are spent on this. The city of Weimar announces that it will reduce around 500 kindergarten places in the coming years because the birth rate has dropped sharply. Of around 800 births at peak times, only 366 are expected in 2024, which presents the structures of the kindergartens with great challenges [mdr]. .

The state government also calls this development on the scene. Since 2015, the Thuringian Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Work and Family has been pursuing the strategy of further developing daycare centers in Thuringian parent-child centers (Thekiz). The aim is to improve networking and support in early childhood education. In the current coalition agreement, the gradual changeover is clearly anchored, which also includes financial funding in order to support the facilities in their development [Thekiz] .

The way to the future

The state funding is part of a comprehensive strategy that aims to strengthen the early childhood education landscape in Thuringia. Three out of five pillars of this strategy focus on networking, the support of local organizations and the professional process support. In addition, a needs -based training program is provided to secure and develop the quality in the facilities.

Overall, it can be seen that the merger of the kindergartens in Suhl is only part of a larger trend that affects the daycare centers in Thuringia. At a time when the demographic development and the financial pressure on the municipalities are noticeably increasing, proactive planning and support is essential to make early childhood education.