The federal government has been funding language education at day-care centers since 2016. At the end of the year, however, no federal funds should flow for the time being. There is great resistance to this.
Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) – Trade unions and parents are working in Stuttgart to maintain “language day-care centers”. With a protest planned for Wednesday (3 p.m.) in the state capital, parents and educators want to prevent the funding of the corresponding federal program running out at the end of the year.
The program has been funded by the federal government since 2016 and is intended to help eliminate language deficits in preschool age. It is particularly aimed at day-care centers that have many children with special needs. Help is provided, for example, with an additional specialist, specialist advice or qualifications for the staff. The funding is due to expire at the end of the year.
“Between 20 and 30 percent of our primary school children are below the minimum standard in reading, listening and spelling,” said Verdi country chief Martin Gross, referring to a performance study published last Monday on behalf of the Conference of Ministers of Education. “Anyone who is still seriously considering letting language support in day-care centers fail because of money should urgently take a look at their own scientific studies.” Education begins in daycare.
The federal government wants the federal states to take the money for language training from another federal pot. But it won’t be available for a few months. Transitional financing is still being negotiated.
