Meeting with community organizations to discuss school childcare arrangements
In North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, concerns about the future of open all-day primary schools and school social work have been raised by various stakeholders, including Stefan Zimkeit, a member of the state parliament.
Zimkeit has criticised the state government's budget plans, particularly in "poor municipalities," claiming they are causing issues. In a meeting with Oberhausen's social associations, he highlighted the significant consequences of budget cuts, with 35 representatives of local social associations and school specialists expressing their concern about the situation.
One of the main concerns is the lack of state funding, which has caused particular issues in "poor municipalities." According to Anna Pyschny from AWO, better-off parents are withdrawing their children from the all-day program and privately funding them, but this is not mentioned in the context of the open all-day program.
However, it's important to note that as of the latest available information, there are no specific details on current budget cuts impacting open all-day primary schools and school social work in North Rhine-Westphalia. NRW.BANK is actively involved in supporting the social infrastructure, including schools, through various financing programs, offering long-term loans to support the construction and refurbishing of school buildings.
The state government has announced a "rescue package" for the open all-day program, which the SPD will introduce in the state parliament this year. Zimkeit has demanded the renewal of the "Good School" program for the investment in all-day schools, particularly for often dilapidated school buildings.
Stephan Lensing pointed out that the current care key for the open all-day program is only 1:80, while requirements have increased, especially for children with special needs. The year-to-year guarantee for specialists in the open all-day program and school social work is causing stress, according to Frank Janßen, but this is not related to the "rescue package" or the demand for investment in the "Good School" program.
Zimkeit has also called for more appreciation for the achievements of the open all-day program. Cuts of 15 million euros for refugee counseling are being withdrawn, while another 15 million are cut from municipal integration centers. However, if funds for technology and energy consulting, and from the security package are subtracted, the actual cut is 20 million euros.
Anja Rustemeyer from Die Kurbel stated that the budget is insufficient and it's a disaster. The state must absorb the rising costs of the open all-day program, or a withdrawal of association providers threatens, according to Zimkeit. The situation is far from educational justice, according to Pyschny.
In conclusion, while there are ongoing concerns about the future of open all-day primary schools and school social work in North Rhine-Westphalia, the state government has announced a rescue package and is actively involved in supporting the social infrastructure through various financing programs. For precise information on budget cuts, it would be advisable to consult local government or educational department announcements in North Rhine-Westphalia.
- The debate about the future of open all-day primary schools and school social work in North Rhine-Westphalia's politics involves discussions on policy and legislation, particularly in the context of budget plans and their impact on poor municipalities.
- The state's focus on general news, such as the announced "rescue package" for open all-day schools and the renewal of the "Good School" program, contrasts with the concerns raised by stakeholders like Stefan Zimkeit about potential education-and-self-development disparities due to budget cuts.
