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Pupils at a primary school in Wiesbaden
Photo: Arne Dedert / dpa
The Federal Cabinet has cleared the way for additional funds to expand all-day care at primary schools.
For this purpose, the federal government decided to set up a special fund, said government spokesman Steffen Seibert after the cabinet meeting in Berlin on Wednesday.
For this year and next, the federal states will each receive one billion euros, half from the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs.
Further federal funds of 1.5 billion euros have already flowed with the corona aid.
This will provide the federal states with a total of 3.5 billion euros in financial aid.
The federal states can use the first 750 million euros this year for planning and expansion costs in order to create additional all-day places.
Seibert reminded that a legal right to full-day care should be realized by 2025.
The aim is to offer eight-hour all-day care five days a week, including a reliable lunch menu.
The children should also be able to be looked after during the holidays.
According to the federal government, around half of all primary school children already use an all-day program.
Federal Family Minister Franziska Giffey (SPD) estimates the need at 75 to 80 percent, however, this gap should now be closed.
During the corona pandemic, it became clear how important afternoon care is, said Giffey.
State Minister for Integration Annette Widmann-Mauz (CDU) said: "With an additional 1.5 billion euros, we are improving children's educational opportunities and helping parents to combine family and work."
The cabinet decision would also strengthen women in particular, who often assume the main responsibility for childcare.
The expansion of childcare offers gave migrant women more opportunities for language courses or professional training measures in order to gain a foothold in the labor market.
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kha / dpa / AFP