Kitas in the Mettmann district: 131 facilities threaten to close!

Kitas in the Mettmann district: 131 facilities threaten to close!

The problem for daycare centers in North Rhine-Westphalia has now accepted worrying proportions. SuperTipp reports that a total of 131 daycare centers have been closed or reduced since the beginning of 2025 in the district of 2025. These alarming numbers were announced by the SPD member of the state parliament Elisabeth Müller-Witt.

According to a report by the NRW Ministry of Family Affairs, around 10,700 daycare 2944 institutions are affected in the entire state. The reasons for these closings and reductions are not only financial in nature, but also affect the personnel ceiling. Due to considerable financial pressure, many sponsors are forced to reduce staff, which still exacerbates the already tense situation.

financial challenges for daycare centers

The situation of the daycare centers is increasingly critically viewed by numerous political actors. WDR reports that there are debates in the state parliament about the precarity of financial circumstances at daycare centers. The SPD in particular has requested a “daycare rescue package” of at least 500 million euros to ensure the bridging financing. The risks that result from this situation are serious: If the carriers continue to get out of the collective agreements, this could lead to a massive emigration of specialists.

The FDP supports the demand for a financial rescue package, but does not make any specific suggestions on the amount of the funds. The political discussion leads to a further increase in alarm bells: the training situation in the daycare sector is considered extremely tense. Inadequate means and a massive lack of resources make the situation almost intolerable for many institutions.

reactions of the state government

The Ministry of Family, led by Minister Josefine Paul (Greens), recognizes the tense situation in the daycare centers, but refers to measures that have already been decided. These include an immediate aid package of 60 million euros to support the increased energy costs. Nevertheless, many participants criticize that these measures are not sufficient and the reaction of the state government is far too slow.

representatives on site, such as Mechthild Thamm from the parity, urgently demand immediate measures to secure the daycare centers in their existence. Müller-Witt also brought a reform of the Child Education Act to the new regulation of daycare financing in order to find a sustainable solution to the problems in the facilities.

The situation in the daycare centers remains critical and requires urgent, effective measures to ensure the quality of early childhood education and support in North Rhine-Westphalia in the long term.