Stracke: "Language day-care centers must be saved"

Created: 08/07/2022, 08:00

The Allgäu member of the Bundestag Stephan Stracke (CSU) criticizes that the federal government wants to phase out a nationwide funding program for language development at daycare centers.

© Tobias Koch

Memmingen/Berlin – Allgäu member of the Bundestag Stephan Stracke (CSU) sharply criticizes the fact that the federal government wants to phase out a nationwide support program for language development at daycare centers - without having agreed on a follow-up solution with the states.

In the city of Memmingen alone, a total of twelve kindergartens and day-care centers are affected, Stracke said in a press release.

In Memmingen and the districts, all kindergartens and day-care centers participate in the federal program "Language Kitas" without exception - with the exception of a small school kindergarten with currently 18 children and the crèches.

According to the draft budget for 2023, this program, which has been promoting language education since 2011, is to be canceled without replacement, according to Stracke.

“Language is the key to successful integration.

To cut at this point in particular is a mistake by the traffic light government with far-reaching consequences.

The decision of the federal cabinet to cut the funds for the federal program "Language Kitas" after more than ten years is completely incomprehensible.

In their coalition agreement, the traffic light had promised to further develop and consolidate this program.

Since around 40 percent of daycare children have a migration background, this approach was good and right.

A chance for interaction, participation and ultimately integration does not come for free.

Not to mention the consequences of the corona pandemic, which were at least mitigated with the help of the language program," Stracke makes clear.

In his constituency, a total of 44 facilities and measures are affected by the deletion.

Cities like Memmingen, which have deliberately made very active use of this important program of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs in recent years, are now again facing a major challenge after two years of Corona and the wave of refugees from Ukraine.

"It is incomprehensible to the Union faction that support for this successful program should be ended at a time when numerous children from Ukraine have to be cared for.

We demand a solution for the federal funding program "Language Kitas" to be initiated now and to stop the unilateral cut of funds by the federal government," emphasizes Stracke, who is the labor market and social policy spokesman for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the German Bundestag has a special focus on social issues.

“Day care centers with a high proportion of children in need of support have so far been able to apply for 25,000 euros per year from the program for an additional half-time specialist to help integrate language training into day-to-day day-care center work.

We all know how important early childhood education is.

For children who need support, the language day-care centers lay the foundation for academic and professional success.

To catch up at a later point in time, which is neglected here at a young age, is much more difficult for those affected and significantly more expensive for the state coffers," the MP concluded.