Germany Relies on Immigrants to Ease Child Care Crisis

Source: https://www.dw.com/

In Cologne, Germany, a bilingual daycare center is successfully teaching young children both Spanish and German. On a typical day, children, ages 2 to 6, learn Spanish through songs, words, and everyday activities, even though most cannot speak the language fluently. Staff members, like Jessica Rojas Flores from Bolivia, use playful methods to teach vocabulary while the children also help her practice German. The center’s bilingual approach is helping children develop empathy and communication skills, as they learn to navigate situations where they may not be immediately understood.

Carmen Casares Naranjo highlights the benefits of a bilingual approach, noting that children are learning practical skills, such as counting in Spanish and identifying colors, which help them navigate situations where they may face communication barriers. The bilingual concept was initiated in 2013 by Peruvian-born Cynthia Malca-Buchholz, now the center’s deputy director, and was quickly supported by the Fröbel Group, the kindergarten’s sponsor.

Malca-Buchholz reassures parents that learning a second language won’t overwhelm their child; instead, multilingualism opens doors for them. The bilingual approach at the daycare is attracting skilled workers from Spain, with Malca-Buchholz receiving more job applications. She explains that many trained childcare workers in Spain and Latin America struggle to find work and end up in unrelated jobs, while Germany offers them the opportunity to work in their field of study.

The daycare center’s approach of hiring skilled workers from abroad could help address Germany’s kindergarten crisis. Currently, Germany faces a shortage of 430,000 daycare spots and 125,000 childcare staff, leaving every daycare center short of two educational specialists.

The childcare worker shortage is especially severe in western Germany, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia, where 3,600 service reductions occurred in September. Parents are forced to adjust their schedules or even face daycare closures. Despite a legal right to daycare for children under 3, the system is struggling to meet demand, impacting the economy. A study estimates that the childcare crisis costs Germany €23 billion annually, as 1.2 billion working hours go unfilled each year, with some companies reducing staff due to a lack of childcare options.

The childcare crisis in western Germany is largely due to historical factors. In the old West Germany, there was little focus on institutional child care, while the former East Germany established a system to support working women. As a result, eastern Germany has traditionally had better childcare services. In response to the crisis, Katja Ross, a nursery school teacher, launched the “Every Child Counts” petition, which has garnered over 220,000 signatures. This movement calls for improved working conditions in early childhood education, marking the largest push for better child care in Germany’s history.

Katja Ross, a nursery school teacher, highlighted the challenging conditions faced by day care centers in Germany, where staff shortages often lead to urgent situations. She emphasized the critical role of early childhood education in shaping a child’s future learning. Ross and her supporters are advocating for more specialists, binding minimum staff standards, and the expansion of day care spots to ensure every child has access. Despite the €4 billion allocated in the new Kita Quality Act, Ross believes it will not be enough to meet these goals. She argues that investing in early education yields long-term benefits, including improved educational outcomes and stronger pension systems, but requires bold political action.

Read More: https://childreninfobank.com/safebank/germany-relies-on-immigrants-to-ease-child-care-crisis/

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