(de-news.net) – Investments in childcare facilities are, in the words of Federal Education Minister Karin Prien (CDU), nothing less than a “matter of destiny” for Germany. Prien underscored that political decision-makers at every level — from district administrators and state ministers to prime ministers and ultimately the Federal Chancellor — must recognize that progress in this field is not optional but vital. According to media reports, Prien argued that such advancements are indispensable not only for safeguarding the long-term stability of the German economy but also, increasingly, for ensuring the resilience and survival of German democracy itself.
Prien described the current state of the German educational system as dramatic and deeply concerning. Yet she also insisted that the ongoing decline in birth rates should be interpreted not solely as a crisis but as an opportunity. She emphasized that the overarching objective at all political levels must be to enhance the quality of early childhood education by making strategic use of the so-called “demographic dividend.” In her view, early learning — whether it takes place within the family environment or in daycare centers — forms the foundation for all later academic achievement. To secure this foundation, she recommended that specialists in paedagogical professions be retained in the system. At the same time, she issued a warning against the temptation to divert freed resources merely to cover general budgetary shortfalls, stressing that such a move would undermine long-term educational goals.
The Minister further elaborated that developmental needs in areas such as language acquisition, motor skills, and socioemotional growth must be addressed in a coordinated and targeted manner. She proposed that children who begin life under severely disadvantaged circumstances should be prioritized in these efforts. To achieve this, she clarified that a social index could serve as a guiding instrument to ensure that support reaches those most in need. Moreover, she suggested that government funding under the framework of the so-called Childcare Quality Act should be granted only when specific conditions are met and when established quality standards are consistently upheld. Prien concluded by noting that all of these pressing issues and proposals will be placed on the agenda, and discussed in detail, at the upcoming Conference of Education Ministers scheduled for Thursday this week.
