Education - Ramelow calls Ampel-Plans for Kita-Funding 'Scandal'
Thuringia's Minister-President Bodo Ramelow (Left) sharply criticized the federal government's plans for using the Kindergarten funding in the states. "This is a scandal for me," Ramelow told the German Press Agency (dpa) in Erfurt. On Facebook, he wrote: "This federal government has 'no heart for children'."
No Money from the Federation for Fee Waivers
According to plans by the traffic light coalition in Berlin, the states will no longer be able to use the billions of the Federation for Kindergarten funding to relieve parents of fees starting from 2025. Instead, the money should primarily flow into securing and acquiring specialized staff, as shown in a paper on the planned new version of the Kindergarten Quality Law, which the dpa has obtained.
In Thuringia, the last two years before primary school are free. The fee waiver, according to the Education Ministry's statements, is financed both from state and federal funds. Ramelow has been advocating for further steps towards fee waivers for years. Each kindergarten year costs roughly 30 to 35 million euros in fee waivers in Thuringia.
Ramelow points out the Thuringian perspective
Ramelow drew attention to the fact that there is a daycare offer of ten hours in Thuringian kindergartens, which helps parents with early and late shifts in their working hours. "That sets us completely apart from Western Germany." Therefore, the money was also used here for fee waivers. "That's a typical West German lens that is being put on here. And it's aimed at the children," he said.
So far, the federal states have been able to use funds of up to two billion euros annually to a maximum of 49 percent for the reduction or abolition of kindergarten fees. With the new law, which the cabinet is expected to pass in the coming weeks, this possibility is to disappear.
Ramelow confirmed on Facebook his demand for free education and care for children. He accused the federal government of denying a child welfare safety net, which could also include kindergarten fees. Now, he said, the federal government wants to take away the right of the states to decide how they want to implement free education.
The dpa said Ramelow that he had had faith in the traffic light government that "finally a different image of the federal government for children in society would be created - namely, that every child is equally valuable." The new traffic light plans are now a turnaround.
- The traffic light-Coalition in Berlin has proposed a change in the Kindergarten funding, affecting the states from 2025, as reported by the German Press Agency (dpa) in Berlin.
- Despite the new plans, Bodo Ramelow, the Minister-President of Thuringia, strongly opposes the use of Kindergarten funding for anything other than fee waivers, calling it a scandal.
- In a Facebook post, Ramelow criticized the federal government, stating that they lack a heart for children due to their proposed changes in Kindergarten funding.
- The change in plans would reduce the states' ability to use up to two billion euros annually for fee waivers in kindergartens, impacting families in Thuringia who rely on these subsidies.
- In response to these proposed changes, Ramelow has reiterated his demand for free education and care for children, accusing the federal government of denying a child welfare safety net.
- The controversy over Kindergarten funding has sparked a debate in Erfurt, with many parents in Thuringia expressing their concerns about the potential impact on their children's education and care.
