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District of Paderborn's SPD voices concerns over daycare Centers' closures
The SPD in the district of Paderborn has raised an alarm following a significant number of closures and restrictions in local daycare facilities. The warning comes in the wake of a report from the North Rhine-Westphalia Family Ministry, which indicates that 65 out of 215 daycare centers in Paderborn have faced closures or restrictions since January 1, 2025. Nationwide, this affected approximately 3,991 facilities out of approximately 10,700.
SPD district council candidate Matthias Fiedler expressed deep concern, stating, "The situation in daycare centers remains critical. Since the beginning of the year, 65 facilities in the district of Paderborn have had to temporarily close, dissolve groups, or substantially reduce offerings. Can the state government continue to passively observe this crisis?"
Silke Kohaupt, chairwoman of the SPD district council faction, echoed these concerns, stating, "The system is on the edge. Providers are long past their limits - they simply cannot sustain enough staff with the current financial circumstances. Therefore, we urgently require stronger financial support from the state and a fundamental reform of the Children's Education Act. Otherwise, the system will eventually collapse entirely."
Fiedler emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, "What we are witnessing is not a temporary problem but a structural crisis. When groups close or places are lost, it's not just statistical data - it means that families cannot dependably plan their daily lives."
In their local election program, the SPD in the district of Paderborn has demanded, among other things, full coverage of wage increases and the establishment of an emergency fund for daycare centers to address short-term staff shortages. For the long term, Fiedler supports the abolition of daycare fees in the district. "If early childhood education is taken seriously, it should not depend on the income of the parents. At the same time, we must improve the working conditions for employees and address the shortage of skilled workers."
The SPD in Paderborn views the district as not only responsible but also obligated to collaborate with providers, municipalities, and parents to find solutions. "We aim to support families in the district - and that starts with the youngest. What we need now is a real breakthrough in family policy - not just empty promises, but concrete action," says Kohaupt.
The SPD in Paderborn calls for a review of the Children's Education Act in light of the ongoing crisis in daycare centers, advocating for a fundamental reform toprovide stronger financial support and improve working conditions for providers. In politics and general news, the SPD is demanding a more active role from the state government to address the structural crisis in daycare centers, including the establishment of an emergency fund and the abolition of daycare fees.
