The looming closure of kindergartens in Germany is a real concern, as warned by the Association of Elementary Schools. Chairperson Edgar Bon highlights that numerous elementary schools are on the brink of, or even below, their staffing budgets.
The specter of kindergarten collapse is drawing near
Edgar Bon emphasizes his hesitation to envision complete kindergarten closures but acknowledges that it may become a reality for smaller units. The possibility of restrictions in the form of reduced schedules cannot be dismissed entirely.
Industry associations confirm that the ongoing wave of illnesses is impacting kindergartens nationwide.
"A multitude of kindergartens across the country are currently grappling with a large number of absent staff," said Waltraud Wegmann, chairwoman of the German Kindergarten Association, to RND.
Jennifer Rotter, the press secretary of the Workers' Welfare Organization (Awo), described the situation as precarious, worsened by the current wave of illnesses.
"Reduced working hours and even temporary closures due to staff shortages have become the norm rather than the exception," Rotter observed.
The impending danger of kindergarten closures in Germany. Image source: flickr.com
Wegmann stressed swift action is required to address the issue of qualified staff.
'We need to act swiftly. Otherwise, we are not facing a crisis in kindergartens, but a catastrophic collapse of these institutions,' Wegmann warned.
Germany currently grapples with an acute shortage of qualified . The wave of winter illnesses has further affected these institutions, with numerous employees taking sick leave due to health issues.
The remaining staff now bears the double burden of additional workloads and overtime. If the situation does not improve, the closure of individual institutions due to quarantine becomes imminent.
Parents must take the current situation into account and prepare accordingly.
Presently, kindergartens continue their operations, but the duration is uncertain.
Related topics:
- The ongoing illness wave has affected kindergarten operations, necessitating a large number of absent staff and temporary closures due to staff shortages.
Enrichment Data:
The current wave of illnesses, primarily driven by the Omicron variant and its subvariants, has significantly impacted staffing and operations in kindergartens in Germany. This may lead to closures or reduced schedules. Key points from sources include:
- Staffing issues due to high infection rates among staff members have forced numerous educational institutions to adjust their operations[1].
- Quarantine measures have become necessary as a result of rising case numbers and close contacts with infected individuals. This reduces operational capacity[1].
- The German government has attempted to mitigate the impact on educational institutions with various measures, but the ongoing pandemic continues to pose challenges[1][4].
- Study on Multiple Health Complaints (MHC) during the pandemic indicates that children and adolescents experience higher prevalence rates of health complaints, particularly during the winters of 2020/2021 and 2022. This exacerbates staff shortages as more staff members may be absent due to health issues[3].
- Educational institutions have made operational adjustments, such as reduced class sizes, flexible schedules, and maintaining essential services despite reduced capacity, to cope with staff shortages[1].
