More staff and better quality: daycare centers in MV are on the rise!

More staff and better quality: daycare centers in MV are on the rise!

What is happening in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania? Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) and Education Minister Simone Oldenburg (Left) are committed to improving daycare centers in the state. Their goal is clear: the quality of early childhood education should be increased and daycare centers should be offered free of charge. Oldenburg illustrates how important the connection between good education and high-quality working conditions is for skilled workers. The state government would like to significantly improve the situation in daycare centers with various measures in order to relieve the burden on both parents and specialists. SVZ reports that numerous initiatives have already been initiated.

An example of the ongoing efforts is the publication of the statement “Healthy skilled workers, good education: ensuring staff and quality in early education” by the Standing Scientific Commission of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs. This statement addresses crucial aspects such as health, resilience and the working conditions of early childhood educators and their influence on educational quality and equal opportunities. Oldenburg emphasized that despite improvements that have already been implemented, further steps are needed to bring about lasting change.

Standardization for better quality

A central element of these efforts is the recently signed state framework agreement, which was ratified by key players in child day care. The aim is to standardize quality development goals, which include, among other things, a uniform personnel and performance key as well as clear guidelines for calculating working hours. In this way, up to 700 additional specialists will be brought into the daycare centers, which could bring enormous relief to the existing teams. The Minister of Education stated that tax money must be targeted specifically at children and educators in order to bring about long-term improvements.

But what about the qualifications of skilled workers? According to a current report provided by Early Opportunities, the goal is to qualify up to 85% of educational staff with recognized teacher training or a corresponding university degree. Currently, this standard can only be achieved gradually due to the shortage of skilled workers. A first step stipulates that a quota of 72.5% will be bindingly regulated just five years after the Quality Development Act comes into force.

The reaction of the population

In the recent past, there have been clearly audible voices from citizens. In mid-October, around 5,500 people demonstrated in Schwerin against the alleged cuts to daycare centers and the social sector. But the Ministry of Education rejected these allegations; Rather, the need for better documentation of the use of state funds was highlighted. It remains to be seen whether the population's trust in the local daycare centers and their handling of resources can actually be restored.

Overall, the spirit of optimism in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania for early childhood education is definitely noticeable. The commitment of Prime Minister Schwesig and Education Minister Oldenburg could be the key to better quality and well-equipped daycare centers that meet both the needs of children and those of skilled workers. A large project whose progress can be followed with excitement.