Third Free Kindergarten Year: Christian Tischner Pushes for Budget Allocation
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Road's Minister insists on financial support for the continued offering of complimentary kindergarten services beyond the initial two years. - Government Official Advocates for Financial Allocation for a Third Year of Voluntary Financial Support
In planning the double budget for the years 2026 and 2027, Thuringia's Minister of Education Christian Tischner (CDU) urges the state parliament to allocate funds for the implementation of a third free-of-charge kindergarten year.
"A third free-of-charge year in kindergarten, serving a social and family-political purpose, shouldn't undermine vital investments in the quality of early childhood and school education," says Tischner to the German Press Agency. Tischner stresses the importance of avoiding budget cuts in other areas of his department while introducing the third free year.
Approximately 30 to 35 million euros in annual costs
Currently, in Thuringia, the penultimate and final kindergarten years are provided free of charge. The addition of a third free year, mainly advocated by the Left Party, is estimated to cost around 30 to 35 million euros per year.
During the state budget drafting for 2025, the CDU, BSW, and SPD coalition partners reached an agreement with the Left Party parliamentary group to introduce a third free-of-charge kindergarten year in the Free State starting August 1, 2027. The costs associated with this initiative need to be included in the double budget for 2026/2027.
Thuringia's Minister President Mario Voigt (CDU) states that this double budget will be the first budget to bear the hallmark of the Brombeer coalition. The draft for the recently adopted state budget 2025 was still formulated by the previous red-red-green government.
Budget Implications
- Increased Costs: Implementing a third free-of-charge kindergarten year would presumably result in increased expenses for the state due to the need for additional funding for facilities, staffing, and resources.
- Budget Allocation: The state would need to reallocate funds from the overall budget to cover these costs, potentially affecting other areas such as healthcare, infrastructure, or social services.
- Long-term Benefits: Investing in early childhood education could lead to cost savings in the long run, specifically by reducing the need for remedial education or social services in the future.
- Employment and Economic Impact: The expansion of kindergarten years could also boost employment among educators and support staff, contributing positively to local economic activity.
The Community policy, as outlined by Minister Christian Tischner, considered the implementation of a third free-of-charge kindergarten year, emphasizing its importance in education-and-self-development and policy-and-legislation. However, this proposal may lead to increased costs and potential changes in budget allocation, impacting areas such as vocational training, politics, and general news.
