Communities barely tap into millions in funding for all-day care - Communities barely tap into millions in funding for all-day care
Bavaria is set to introduce a legal right to all-day primary schooling from the 2026/27 academic year. However, concerns have been raised about slow progress in using federal funds to expand these programmes. Local authorities have so far accessed only a small fraction of the available money.
The federal government has provided extra funding since 2023 to speed up the creation of all-day school places. Yet, by early December, Bavaria’s councils had withdrawn just 3.33% of the nearly €461 million allocated for all-day childcare. This amounts to only €15.3 million being used so far.
Of the total federal budget approved for all-day school projects, just 27.93% (€128 million) had been earmarked for specific uses by the same date. SPD education policy spokesperson Simone Strohmeyer has criticised the slow uptake, blaming a complicated application process. She has called for the system to be simplified to allow faster access to funds. Strohmeyer also highlighted a lack of political commitment from the state government. She warned that without urgent action, many families may struggle to secure all-day places once the legal entitlement begins. Her comments come as Bavaria prepares for the mandatory rollout of all-day primary schooling in less than two years.
The legal requirement for all-day primary education starts in 2026. But with only a small portion of funds used, questions remain about whether schools will be ready. Authorities now face pressure to accelerate planning and spending to meet the upcoming deadline.
