In Germany, strains to the general childcare system come before the teaching content implemented in it. Especially in large cities, the supply of childcare places at the municipal level is rather not sufficient. There are more children looking for a place than available places – a situation made worse by another factor.
Perhaps the greatest current challenge of the early childcare system is the shortage of skilled workers in daycare centres, which has persisted for years. Although significantly more people have been trained in the last decade, the demand could be met less and less due to the further expansion of places. This problem will continue for some years, especially in western Germany. This leads to the fact that the specialist-child ratio is worse than scientifically recommended (1 specialist to 3 children for ages under 3, 1 specialist to 7.5 children aged above 3 years).
Pedagogical staff has repeatedly reached the limits of their capacity. Individual states have reacted to this emergency by opening up to less pedagogically qualified persons, which is likely to contribute to a further strain on the available specialists.
In terms of Education for Sustainable Development, its implementation has not not yet taken place sufficiently in the orientation and education plans of the federal states according to reports by stakeholders. According to our research, the concept of green entrepreneurship has not yet arrived in German kindergartens.
