Not only the older girls and boys are facing a new school year. The little ones can also look forward to a new year in the day-care center. The problems are very similar: How are the daycare centers prepared for a new corona wave and how can the shortage of skilled workers be solved?
Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) – The new North Rhine-Westphalian Family Minister Josefine Paul (Greens) informed today (11.00 a.m.) about the current situation in day care. During the corona pandemic, parents, children and educators constantly had to adapt to changing restrictions and new regulations.
Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) had previously made it clear: “There should no longer be widespread closures of daycare centers and schools.” School Minister Dorothee Feller (CDU) has already made mask recommendations for classrooms and other interiors. She also relies on voluntary tests at home. Masks and tests will be provided.
It is expected that Family Minister Paul will also comment on the provision of daycare places for the different age groups, but also on the quality of early childhood education and the lack of staff.
In their coalition agreement, the CDU and the Greens have announced a skilled labor offensive. In addition, the use of administrative assistance should be made possible, which frees pedagogical specialists from bureaucratic work as far as possible. In addition, the so-called everyday helper program will be extended until the end of the year.
The day-care center helpers support the specialist staff with many infection control measures. With the opportunity for further qualification, the program with state funds also offers interested parties an alternative way into the educator profession. The SPD opposition is calling for this program to be consolidated.
The state government has also promised to make the third year of day-care before starting school free of charge. The SPD wants this to be implemented immediately. The coalition agreement also postulates: “We are aiming for free meals in daycare centers and will gradually relieve parents of meal allowances, depending on their income.”
