- Bremen worries about changes in education
- Mass protest in the city center: families fear for their children's education
- Protests in Bremen also about childcare workers' pay
Bremen worries about changes in education
In Germany's North West, the city of Bremen is facing a crisis in the education sector. The city's education senator plans to change the law on kindergartens, which could bring even more uncertainty to childcare and education[1].
In opposition, the Verdi trade union has called on citizens in the city who oppose the government's idea to organize a protest, fearing that the quality of childcare will drop significantly. The union's invitation to the demonstration stated:
"In the future, a certificate of good conduct will be enough to become a so-called 'eligible person' to work with children in a daycare center. These changes will exacerbate the crisis in kindergartens. Instead of early childhood education, there will only be child protection. Even more kindergarten workers will leave the profession. This is a betrayal of our colleagues and a danger to children. We strongly oppose the lowering of standards. We are angry and frustrated, and we say: "No!"," the Verdi union said in a statement.
Bremen's education senator, Sascha Aulepp, has previously announced plans to lower the qualification requirements for childcare workers to attract more staff to kindergartens and childcare centers[2].
The trade unions reject Aulepp's plans and warn that the crisis in childcare centers will be exacerbated, and the quality of services will be worse than it is now. Professionals and families worried about the future of their children's education actively oppose the idea.
Mass protest in the city center: families fear for their children's education
Today, 9 December, the Verdi trade union has called all interested groups to strike against the planned changes to Bremen's kindergarten law (Bremen KTG). The strike started at 13:00 at Domsheide, the main square in Bremen. The headquarters of the Greens, SPD, and LINKE parliamentary parties passed the demonstration. There, the trade union handed over protest statements to the parliamentary groups.
The march reached about two kilometers, and hundreds of people participated in it, mostly families, mothers, and their children. The protesters were "armed" with placards criticizing the government's plans. Some of them whistled, and the march was accompanied by loud music.
77 interviewed some of the protesters at the spot. One protester interviewed, who could hardly speak English, said she feared that the quality of education in kindergartens would deteriorate. Others stated that these changes could negatively impact everyone in the education field.
Protests in Bremen also about childcare workers' pay
A similar protest took place in Bremen a few months ago. Around 500 people demonstrated for higher wages for kindergarten workers.
The protesters demanded an immediate wage adjustment retroactive to March 1, this year. They wanted to ensure that the same conditions were applied to teachers in the public and private sectors[3].
The Bremen Department of Education planned to increase the salaries of staff working in kindergartens belonging to the Bremen Parents' Association from the new year. This follows the discovery that staff working in municipal daycare centers are paid more than those working in the parents' associations.
Although the salary increase for staff in daycare centers run by parents' associations has been decided, it is currently on hold due to the Bremen Education Department's budget freeze. For this reason, the protesters called on Senator Aulepp, the Senator for Education, to take immediate action; otherwise, the staff would move to other daycare centers.
However, the department cannot increase salaries retroactively from 1 March this year, and it will ultimately be up to the local authorities to decide whether salaries will be adjusted from January 2025 in next year's budget negotiations.
