Federal Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU) warned that, just before the legal right to full‑time care in elementary schools takes effect, several issues remain unresolved.
She told the Funke Media Group’s newspapers that the expansion of full‑time schooling is on a good track and that the availability of places in schools and childcare centres is noticeably increasing. However, the same data underline that regional challenges-particularly shortages of space and staff-continue to exist.
Prien emphasized that the federal government, the states and local authorities are working closely together to ensure that sufficient, reliable places are offered in line with demand and that the quality of care is further strengthened.
A new Forsa survey commissioned by the Association of Education and Care revealed that one in four elementary schools fears the full implementation of the right to full‑time care for first‑year students in the coming autumn will not be possible. The most frequently cited obstacles are a lack of rooms, insufficient personnel and budget constraints.
The federal and state governments have agreed on a phased rollout of the full‑time care right. Starting in the next school year, the regulation will apply to first‑grade pupils; by 2029/2030 it will extend to all grades in elementary schools. By the end of the decade, each child should have access to a placement offering 40 hours of support per week.
