From the school year after next there is a legal right to full-day care in primary school. Union leader Finnern sees great opportunities in this. But she issues a clear warning.
The Education and Science Union (GEW) fears that the shortage of teachers in schools will become significantly worse due to the introduction of the legal right to all-day care. “By 2030, a total of over 110,000 teachers will be missing, as well as several hundred thousand child and youth welfare specialists,” said GEW boss Maike Finnern to the “Stuttgarter Zeitung” and the “Stuttgarter Nachrichten” (Monday).
Specifically, in addition to teachers, educators, social workers and school psychologists were also missing, says Finnern. The GEW boss sees great opportunities in all-day care. The gradual legal entitlement offers a unique opportunity to sustainably strengthen the educational landscape in Germany. “That is precisely why it is so important to clearly identify the challenges and offer solutions,” said Finnern. “Through high-quality further training and good working conditions, full-time work must become an attractive field of work.”
The federal and state governments have decided on a legal right to all-day care in primary schools, which is to be introduced gradually. From the 2026/2027 school year, the regulation will apply to children in the first grade, and from the 2029/2030 school year to children up to and including fourth grade.
Source: Stern
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