New rooms, but no staff: St. Hedwig's children's home is looking for reinforcements

Created: 01/18/2022, 11:05 am

By: Simon Nutzinger

Urgently looking for reinforcements: (from left) head of the children's home Christiane Peters, head of administration Martin Köbler, manager of the crèche Hannelore Tuch and administrative worker Marianne Lutz from the children's home St. Hedwig in Seefeld.

© jaksch

There is no lack of space at the St. Hedwig children's home in Seefeld.

However, this requires qualified educators.

Due to a lack of staff, the extension, which was completed about a year ago, is empty most of the time.

Seefeld – Sunlight floods the generously designed room in the St. Hedwig children's home in Seefeld. Tables, chairs, play corner - everything shines like new. The garden is just a few steps away. "Fantastic beauty," enthuses Marianne Lutz. "Actually, everything fits here." If it weren't for this one big problem: As wonderful as the new extension to the children's home may be - it has been empty most of the time since it opened about a year ago. The facility simply lacks the staff for a second crèche group.

"It hurts my soul," says Marianne Lutz, who, as a member of the church administration, has been taking care of the needs of the Catholic children's home for over 20 years.

When the extension was completed, a second group from the crèche found its place there as planned.

But after several relocation and age-related departures of kindergarten teachers, that quickly came to an end.

Since then, the team of the parish community of St. Peter and Paul has been looking in vain for reinforcements.

Politicians pay too little attention to trained specialists

Whether by job advertisement, information on the website or word of mouth - nothing has been successful so far. "We're trying really hard, but there's hardly any feedback," emphasizes Lutz. A problem that does not only exist in the St. Hedwig children's home, but in the entire branch. "Politics also played their part in this," emphasizes the 71-year-old. In this way, the creation of new crèche places would always be encouraged. "Which is very good in principle." However, little attention is paid to the fact that appropriate specialists are trained. "There is clearly an imbalance."

In the case of the Seefeld facility, it is particularly bitter that there is more than enough need for a second crèche group.

One, currently in existence, has 14 children.

"That would easily be possible again," Lutz clarifies in view of the overcrowded waiting list.

But as it is, the parents have to look for alternatives - and the new tables and chairs remain empty.

Municipality of Seefeld is well positioned when it comes to childcare

A situation that also gives Klaus Kögel a certain stomach ache.

"Even if we as a municipality are not the responsible party in this case, it is of course always a bad thing for the whole place," says the mayor.

In principle, he is quite taken with the current state of childcare in Seefeld.

In addition to the Catholic St. Hedwig children's home, parents can choose between two municipal, two private and one company kindergarten.

"There are different concepts and approaches, I actually like that very much." Kögel hopes that a second crèche group will soon be able to open in St. Hedwig.

"But of course: as is well known, educators don't grow on trees."