A recent study by the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB) reveals that ten years after Germany introduced guaranteed childcare or kita spots for all children from the age of one,
certain groups are still at a disadvantage in finding childcare spots. Privileged families are still more likely to find one in practice, leaving poorer families and those who do not speak German at home struggling to find spots.
The study looked at data from 96,000 children aged three and younger across Germany. In 2020, only 35 percent of young children in Germany had a place at kita, while only 24 percent of children whose families did not speak German at home and 23 percent of children from poor families had a spot.
What's more alarming is that 14 percent of families, despite being legally guaranteed one, could not find a place. For poorer families, this rose to 17 percent, and for families that didn't speak German at home, this figure was notably higher, with 28 percent of those who wanted a place unable to find one. While it is possible to sue for a place, privileged families are more likely to be able to do so.
The BiB is calling for the federal government to make more kita places available, particularly for children who do not speak German at home. Otherwise, children from migration backgrounds risk missing out on developing their educational potential in early childhood, which may be challenging to make up for later.
BiB Director Katharina Spiess points out that parents with a migration background often want their kids to go to daycare. She is asking the government to prioritize this discussion during its education summit on the 14th and 15th of March. The BiB also calls for more active assistance to certain families as they search for places.
In conclusion, despite Germany's legal guarantee of a kita spot for all children from the age of one, certain groups, including poorer families and those who do not speak German at home, are still struggling to find spots. The BiB is urging the government to take action to make more kita places available and provide active assistance to families who need it. This would ensure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to early childhood education and development opportunities. Photo by RajatKansal at en.wikipedia.