The state and future of the early childhood education and care system in Germany is alarming. Numerous scientific data and reports from the field confirm this: The system is under severe strain and is on the verge of collapse.
Against this backdrop, four scientists from different disciplines initiated a call for action against the "daycare crisis" in mid-July, which was published today with over 300 signatures. The appeal "Overwork, stress and exhaustion in many daycare centers: Scientists sound the alarm and call on politicians to act quickly" is aimed at political decision-makers, particularly at federal level.
The four initiators of the appeal are Dr. Rahel Dreyer, Professor of Education and Developmental Psychology of the First Years of Life at Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin, Dr. Jörg Maywald, Honorary Professor of Children's Rights and Child Protection at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, Dr. Michael Schulte-Markwort, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Medical School Hamburg and Ivonne Zill-Sahm, Professor of Early Childhood Education at the Protestant University of Applied Sciences Dresden.
"Since the coronavirus pandemic, the workload of educational professionals in daycare centers has steadily increased. They are among the occupational groups with the most sick days, particularly due to mental illness. The mental health of professionals has a demonstrable impact on the health of children. The children are often stressed and show signs of exhaustion and malaise - and this is partly due to staff shortages and overcrowded groups," says Prof. Dr. Rahel Dreyer.
Dr. med. Michael Schulte-Markwort adds: "The strain on families has also increased enormously. After the major restrictions caused by the daycare closures during the coronavirus pandemic, the daycare crisis is now pushing many families to their limits, with reduced opening hours and even the closure of groups and entire facilities. There are clear indications of increased tensions in families and an increase in family violence."
The latest daycare center report from the Paritätischer Gesamtverband underlines the alarming situation in daycare centers. It shows very clearly that between 2021 and 2023, the general conditions in most facilities have deteriorated drastically. 68% of those surveyed cannot adequately meet the needs of the children with the actual staffing ratio. Daycare centers in disadvantaged social areas stated that they were particularly affected by this.
Prof. Dr. Jörg Maywald: "The current situation fundamentally contradicts the basic needs and rights of children: Children need stable caregivers in reliable structures who are pedagogically qualified and can respond precisely to children's individual educational and developmental needs. The consequences for children, parents, professionals and society as a whole are already almost irreparable due to an increase in mental health problems and a growing educational gap."
Prof. Ivonne Zill-Sahm emphasizes: "In order to avert the imminent collapse of the system, considerable investment and a continuous increase in resources for the ECEC system are needed now and in the medium term. Research into the economics of education in recent years has shown that early childhood education programs in particular are effective in the long term because children benefit from them throughout their entire lives. This also has a positive economic impact, as every euro invested returns three to four times over for society through higher tax and social security revenues, for example."
In their call for action against the "daycare crisis", the initiators demand additional funding for further quality improvements, to finally get the Quality Development Act off the ground and to add short-term measures to the BMFSFJ's so-called "overall strategy for professionals in daycare centers and all-day care" and to provide sufficient funding with a special fund. They are also calling for the resources freed up in federal states where there is a decline in the number of children to be invested in improving the staff-child ratio, for daycare centers with a high proportion of children who are particularly affected by social disadvantage to be better equipped in terms of staff and materials and for cooperation with science and research to be strengthened in order to provide critical and constructive support for the quality process.
Prof. Dr. Rahel Dreyer is available for queries and further information: dreyer@ ash-berlin.eu
Contacts:
Prof. Dr. Rahel Dreyer
Professor of Pedagogy and Developmental Psychology of the First Years of Life
Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin
dreyer@ ash-berlin.eu
Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin
University Communications Office
Christiane Schwausch | Susann Richert
hochschulkommunikation@ ash-berlin.eu
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