Lack of skilled workers. - Specialists view the findings of the daycare study as a "cautionary indication."
It's crucial to prioritize efforts towards ensuring proficiency in early childhood education. This is a joint call from the Chamber of Commerce and unions Verdi and GEW Saarland in a recent press release. Their insistence stems from the outcomes of the recent study "Is Part-Time in Kindergarten?" conducted by the Hans-Böckler Foundation.
Early childhood education and care have seen a massive influx of employees in recent times. The rise in numbers was three times more than the overall German economy. Yet, there's still a lack of specialized personnel in Saarland. By 2025, around 1,600 teachers and minders will be unavailable for kindergartens, with this figure expected to continue growing. Additionally, from 2026, there'll be a legal requirement for full-time funding for kindergarten children. This means there's a severe shortage of training. Furthermore, many kindergarten staff work part-time.
Now more than ever, we need to address the staffing shortage. Thomas Otto, Managing Director of the Chamber of Commerce, stresses the need to alleviate the pressures on specialists. "Also, we must secure and guarantee the financial resources of the Kindergarten Quality Development Act since they're set to run out in 2025."
Max Hewer, GEW Saarland's Chairman, called the TeKit study's results "shocking." He further explained, "Rather than seeing staff in kindergartens increase their working hours, we find that almost half of them want to work less - also because of the high stress levels." Immediate action is required to enhance working conditions to prevent further reduction in work hours.
According to Andreas Thiel, Verdi Saar-Trier's Secretary, the study serves as a "clear warning sign." Although the rise in part-time employment contributes to the specialist shortage, eliminating the possibility of reducing working hours in this sector would be disastrous. The primary reason why staff wants to lessen their hours is due to the enormous physical and psychological strain. To address the expert shortage permanently, the profession must appear more enticing. This can be achieved by increasing relief through fixed preparation and follow-up times, fixed timings for practical instruction, and expanding remunerated childminder training.
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- In response to the findings of the "Is Part-Time in Kindergarten?" study by the Hans-Böckler Foundation, representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and unions Verdi and GEW Saarland have issued a warning signal about the impending skilled worker shortage in early childhood education in Saarland.
- The United Services Union (GEW) Saarland's Chairman, Max Hewer, described the study's results as "shocking," stating that many kindergarten staff want to work less due to high stress levels, which could exacerbate the existing staffing shortage.
- The Saarland daycare center sector is facing a significant skills shortage, with the Chamber of Commerce calling for increased financing and resources to alleviate pressure on specialists, as the current funding for the Kindergarten Quality Development Act is expected to expire in 2025.
- The Saarbrücken-based Hans Böckler Foundation conducted a study on part-time work in kindergartens, revealing an influx of staff, yet a scarcity of specialized personnel, with around 1,600 teachers and minders likely to be unavailable by 2025 due to full-time funding requirements from 2026.
- Verdi Saar-Trier's Secretary, Andreas Thiel, emphasized the study findings as a "clear warning sign," suggesting that improving working conditions, such as expanded remunerated childminder training, fixed preparation and follow-up times, and fixed timings for practical instruction, could help make the profession more appealing and address the ongoing skilled worker shortage in Saarland's daycare centers.
