Kitas in the district of Görlitz: Does the wave of renovation come despite young talent?

Kitas in the district of Görlitz: Does the wave of renovation come despite young talent?

In the east of Germany, a worrying trend is emerging: the decline in birth is increasingly burdening the municipalities, especially in the district of Görlitz. Here, many communities face the challenge of dealing with the declining demand in daycare centers (daycare centers). So informed Sächsische.de Current situation in the municipality of Schönau-Berzdorf, which operates two municipal daycare centers: the "Hutbergzwerge" in Schönau-Berzdorf and the "sniffing" in Kiesdorf. While the "sniffing nose" daycare center is considered solid, the "Hutberg gnomes" daycare center is in need of renovation.

Mayor Luisa Rönisch emphasizes how important it is to remain future -proof even in times of decline. Currently, of a total of 65 places in the "Hutberg gnomes", only about 50 are occupied. Nevertheless, the municipality has decided not to cancel the renovation work and instead continue to invest in the daycare center.

renovation work and investments

The general renovation of the "Hutberg gnomes" takes place in several construction phases, the first has already been completed. This included the construction of new economic areas, a sports room and a bath. The second construction phase includes the laying of new heating and water pipes and the conversion of group rooms into nativity scenes. The last section should be completed by the end of 2025. The total cost of the renovation amounts to around 1.8 million euros, with the municipality awarded a building contract for over 500,000 euros.

Financing presents the municipality for challenges: 55% of the costs are borne by the state and 5% by the district. This means that the municipality has to apply the remaining 40% independently without applying for a loan. In order to generate additional means, the municipality is planning a fundraising campaign on the Gofundme platform.

The demographic change and its consequences

The decline in births that affects the entire state of Saxony has several causes. Experts like Dirk Reelfs from the Saxon Ministry of Culture confirm that this development will first be noticeable in the daycare centers. The forecasts indicate that the number of children under six -year -old will decrease by around ten percent by 2025. In addition, Olga Pötzsch from the Federal Statistical Office notes that the number of women of childbearing age in eastern Germany is weak, which is due to demographic changes.

The birth kink is also seen by some actors as an opportunity to strengthen the quality of early childhood education without reducing the childcare staff. The upcoming state election 2024 will be decisive for the financing and future of daycare centers in Saxony, as experts in the press emphasize.