Two billion euros for Schleswig-Holstein's schools and daycare centers!

Two billion euros for Schleswig-Holstein's schools and daycare centers!

Schleswig-Holstein, Deutschland - in Schleswig-Holstein something is happening! A huge financial package worth two billion euros is expected to ensure a breath of fresh air in schools, hospitals and municipalities over the next twelve years. This is an agreement between the country and the municipal state associations, which was the first state in Germany. Finance Minister Silke Schneider (Bündnis 90/Greens) emphasizes how important the rapid and unbureaucratic implementation of these means is. For example, 3.5 billion euros flow from the nationwide special fund infrastructure and climate neutrality into the projects, of which almost two thirds go directly to the municipalities, as the NDR reports.

The plans not only include the renovation of facilities, but also a clear announcement in relation to the private use of schools, which is now to be restricted. Despite the agreement to take rapid measures, there are different votes in the state parliament. For example, the SPD parliamentary group leader Serpil Midyatli calls for a pressing use of machines and adhering to promise, while the FDP expresses critical voices that the funds could possibly be used for household holes.

all-day care in Schleswig-Holstein

From the school year 2026/27, all elementary school students have a legal right to all -day care from the first class. This represents a significant further development of the education system and is also supported by the new financial package. The state government has agreed that it will cover 85 percent of the costs for all -day care, which also increases planning security for the municipalities. Minister of Education Karin Prien underlines the importance of all-day expansion, since he contributes to the right to educate and strengthening basal skills, according to the information from schleswig-holstein.de.

According to the new funding guideline, which has been in force since June 17, applications for financing new buildings, renovations or equipment investments can be submitted from September 1, 2024. The entire program volume for all-day expansion amounts to up to 196 million euros, of which 52.5 million are provided by the state of Schleswig-Holstein alone. This initiative is also perceived as a positive signal by the associations that now have clearer perspectives for their plans.

on the way to educational justice

However, the initiative is not without challenges. Martin Habersaat, spokesman for the SPD, indicates that previous commitments were often not met and sees a high time pressure in the construction of necessary facilities. The shortage of teachers is also an urgent topic that needs to be tackled. The focus is clearly on the provision of high -quality care for all children and the improvement of the framework conditions in the daycare centers, where, for example, refinancing the personnel costs should increase from 95 to 97.5 percent.

All of this happens against the background of a changing labor market in which 70 percent of women in Schleswig-Holstein work part-time. Here the need for flexible and reliable care offers is more important than ever. It is to be hoped that the funds that have now been provided will not be used for other purposes and that the urgently needed expansion of the offers in schools and daycare centers will actually enable critics like the Junge Union.