Parents in Templin on alert: daycare centers are threatened with closure!

Parents in Templin on alert: daycare centers are threatened with closure!

There is great concern among parents in Templin. The provider of three daycare centers, the Jugend- und Sozialwerk (JuS) Oranienburg, has expressed plans to possibly abandon the “Spatzennest”, “Egelpfuhlfrösche” and “Käthe Kollwitz” locations. According to a report by the Uckermark courier Affected parents have numerous questions, such as whether there are disagreements between the JuS and the city of Templin and what this means for the future of their children.

The “Käthe Kollwitz” daycare center only opened in April 2023 and already enjoyed a great influx of visitors at the open day. Nevertheless, the youth and social welfare agency is faced with serious financial challenges. In the most recent letter to the parliamentary group leaders of the city council, the JuS management is urgently calling for support. This explains that the operating costs are not sufficiently financed, so that the Templin location may have to be abandoned.

Financial concerns

What is particularly problematic is that the JuS has received consistent flat rates per child for two decades, without taking inflation into account. A meeting with the city of Templin took place on December 8, 2023, at which everyone involved agreed that the business lease agreement must be revised. Renate Ulbricht, the managing director of the JuS, emphasizes the urgency of a new daycare financing guideline. Otherwise there is a risk that the facilities will be returned by September 30, 2026.

In this context, Harald Engler, the chairman of the UBW parliamentary group, is calling for a timely clarification of the situation and has directed inquiries to Mayor Christian Hartphiel. The latter recognizes the parents' concerns, but does not comment on the details of the conflict due to ongoing legal proceedings. In view of this situation, a conversation with Henryk Wiechmann, the Uckermark district councilor, is planned for the beginning of January to discuss the situation.

Amendment to the law in sight

The district will be involved in an advisory capacity and reminds us of the planned amendment to the daycare law in Brandenburg, which is intended to influence the financing flows for daycare centers. According to a report by the Tagesspiegel The country plans to introduce new regulations for the financing of daycare centers by the beginning of 2027. A legislative process is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026. Education Minister Steffen Freiberg emphasizes the need for a clear financial overview and wants to hold discussions with leading municipal associations.

The discussion about daycare financing has been going on for years. The previous minister, Britta Ernst, stopped preparations for the reform in 2022. In the meantime, there are also concerns from CDU education politician Kristy Augustin, who fears that the proposed reform will not meet the needs of parents and providers.

The situation is tense. The parents of the daycare centers in Templin are worried about the future of their children, while the political decisions regarding daycare funding prove to be uncertain. There is hope in the city for a quick clarification.