Insufficient Staffing Compromises Pedagogical Mission in Berlin’s Publicly-Run Daycare Centers, Union Reports
Berlin, Germany – The Verdi union has expressed grave concerns about the state of pedagogical care in Berlin’s publicly-run daycare centers, citing a survey revealing a dire shortage of staff that renders it virtually impossible to fulfill the centers’ educational mission.
Survey Findings
Conducted between November 18th and 24th, 2024, the survey polled early childhood educators and parents at Berliner Kita-Eigenbetriebe (publicly-run daycare centers). Out of the 3,200 responses received, about two-thirds came from staff, and one-third from parents. The findings painted a grim picture of understaffing and its detrimental impact on the quality of care.
Understaffing and Insufficient Implementation of Educational Objectives
Across the board, the survey found that the child-to-staff ratio in none of the daycare centers met the official legal or professional recommendations. On average, one early childhood educator was responsible for 10.7 children, with knapp 8 children in the under-three age group and almost 13 in the over-three age group. During peak hours, this ratio increased to 15.8 children per educator.
Accordingly, only 5.8% of the respondents reported being able to adequately fulfill the educational mission of providing Bilden (education), while 10.2% felt capable of providing Erziehen (upbringing). A significant 38.5% indicated that they could provide Betreuen (care), while 45.6% stated that they could not adequately provide any of these essential aspects of early childhood education. The survey concluded that pedagogical work was hardly feasible, and "storage" had become the norm in many daycare centers.
Staff Shortages and Health Impacts
At the time of the survey, 17% of the educators were on sick leave. Of these, 88% attributed their illness directly to the high workload. A majority of the parents surveyed reported experiencing restrictions in care hours, with nearly a third indicating regular reductions in opening hours. Additionally, 46% of parents reported limitations in educational activities. Three-quarters of parents stated that the situation in daycare centers had necessitated career restrictions.
Union Demands and System-Wide Issues
Verdi emphasized that the staffing crisis was not an isolated issue but a systemic problem. The union called for a comprehensive evaluation of the actual staff-to-child ratios in Berlin’s daycare centers. A second round table discussion was scheduled for February 18th to address the workload crisis at Berlin daycare centers, following an initial meeting in November.
Conclusion
The Verdi union’s survey highlights the urgent need to address the severe understaffing in Berlin’s publicly-run daycare centers. The findings raise concerns about the compromised pedagogical mission and the well-being of both staff and children. A comprehensive and systemic approach is essential to ensure the provision of quality early childhood education and care.
