Places of education or just storage?
Panel discussion with representatives from state politics on the topic of “early childhood education in daycare centers and after-school care centers” on August 22, 2024 from 5 p.m. on Leipzig’s Burgplatz
The voluntary ver.di Social and Educational Services (SuE) activist group invites all interested parties to the panel discussion between state parliament candidates, employee and parent representatives on Leipzig’s Burgplatz. The central question is: Daycare centers and after-school care centers of the future – places of education or just storage?
Guests are:
Christin Melcher (Member of Parliament, GREENS)
Holger Gasse (Member of Parliament, CDU)
Juliane Nagel (Member of Parliament, THE LEFT)
Gerald Eisenblätter (State Parliament candidate, SPD)
Statement from the activist group on the background:
Since October 19, 2023, we have been campaigning for the improvement of working conditions in the social and educational services with regular vigils. We would like to thank all supporters who have accompanied us in the past few months, whatever the weather. Despite our tireless efforts, the situation for educators in Saxony has not yet changed. The poor staffing ratio remains the central, pressing challenge. It neither follows the recommended educational standards nor takes operational realities into account. The result is alarming: having up to 16 children aged 2 to 5 alone has now become the norm – an unbearable burden for staff and children. Good early childhood education does not take place this way.
Saxony is currently facing a decline in the number of children. We see a unique opportunity here: the existing staff must be retained and the staff-child ratio must be improved “from scratch”. This quality improvement must then be enshrined in the daycare law by setting a better childcare ratio.
“Saxony must seize this opportunity. It is high time our work was recognized and respected,” stresses Susan, a teacher at a Leipzig daycare center. “We have been calling for urgent improvements in staffing levels and the quality of education for a long time! We are currently in a dire educational situation. This affects not only us as employees, but above all our children, who are having to suffer under the current conditions.”
We cordially invite all employees, parents and allies to take part in our panel discussion and thus put an improvement of daycare centers and after-school care centers on the political agenda.
At the event there will be the opportunity for image and sound recordings with employees, parents and representatives of the active group.
For inquiries and as a contact person on site:
Michael Sommer, union secretary, michael.sommer@verdi.de
