Minister Advocates Equal Funding for Third Free Kindergarten Year in Thuringia
Minister insists on securing funds for an additional year of fee-free kindergarten education - Government Official Advocates Financial Support for a Third Year of Complimentary Contributions
In the upcoming double budget for 2026 and 2027, Thuringia's Minister of Education, Christian Tischner (CDU), is urging state parliament members to allocate sufficient funds for the execution of the third free kindergarten year.
"Implementing a third free kindergarten year as a social and family-oriented policy shouldn't lead to compromising the vital investments needed in the quality of early childhood and school education," Tischner noted to the German Press Agency. Tischner has emphasized that this new kindergarten year should not cause budget cuts in any other areas within his department.
An anticipated annual expense of 30 to 35 million euros for the new year
At present, in Thuringia, only the penultimate and final kindergarten years are tuition-free. The push for a third free year came primarily from the Left Party.
During the creation of the 2025 state budget, the CDU, BSW, SPD, and Left Party parliamentary group worked together to introduce a third free kindergarten year in Thuringia by August 1, 2027. This initiative requires inclusion in the double budget for 2026/2027.
According to Thuringia's Minister President, Mario Voigt (CDU), this double budget will be the first to bear the distinctive character of the Brombeer coalition. The draft of the recently approved state budget 2025 was still formulated by the previous red-red-green administration.
- Early Childhood Education
- Thuringia
- Christian Tischner
- CDU
- Double Budget
- Education
- Budget Drafting
- Erfurt
Behind the Scenes:
Data analysis reveals a growing emphasis on childcare and education across Germany in recent years. This includes increased all-day care in schools and family support policies such as the Elterngeld (parental allowance) [1][2]. Introducing an additional free kindergarten year may demand additional resources from the state's education budget, potentially necessitating increased funding for staff, facilities, and materials. However, it could also provide families, particularly those with lower incomes or working parents, additional support in childcare costs, promoting economic stability and encouraging further education participation among parents [2].
Early childhood education has been linked to improved educational outcomes, and implementing a third free year might enhance children's cognitive and social development, potentially leading to better educational performance throughout their journey [2]. However, the new year might also strain existing staff and infrastructure resources [2]. Thuringia would need to invest in hiring more educators and potentially expanding or upgrading facilities to accommodate the increased demand [2]. Given the national focus on childcare and education, the proposed third free kindergarten year in Thuringia could align with wider trends, offering both opportunities and challenges for the state's budget and educational system [2]. Detailed insights regarding the proposal's current status and budgetary implications are not readily available.
- Thuringia's Minister of Education, Christian Tischner (CDU), is pushing for the allocation of sufficient funds in the upcoming double budget for 2026 and 2027 to execute the third free kindergarten year, a social and family-oriented policy.
- The anticipated annual expense for the new kindergarten year is estimated to be around 30 to 35 million euros.
- The proposal for a third free kindergarten year in Thuringia, which requires inclusion in the double budget for 2026/2027, was a joint initiative of the CDU, BSW, SPD, and Left Party parliamentary group during the creation of the 2025 state budget.
- As the double budget for 2026 and 2027 is set to be the first to reflect the distinctive character of the Brombeer coalition, it is likely that the costs associated with the third free kindergarten year will be a significant aspect of Thuringia's policy-and-legislation and politics in the general news.
