Funding for kindergartens agreed between the federal and state governments will be decided in the National Council on Friday. A billion euros has been committed, but that will be spread over five years. The opposition is demanding significantly more money for rural childcare in Austria. SPÖ and trade unions speak of a “deceitful package” that is created through a “calculation trick”.
In short, it’s only $57.5 million that the federal government spends more each year on kindergartens. The federal funds of 142.5 million thus rise to 200 million per year, or one billion calculated over five years. The turquoise-green federal government spoke of a great success. The money will be used for the free compulsory kindergarten for five-year-olds, the expansion of the offer and language support.
“populist math trick”
The Austrian Trade Union Confederation (ÖGB), on the other hand, sees a “populist math trick”, which again demonstrated on Wednesday against the “deceitful package” with an action in front of the parliamentary chambers in Vienna’s Hofburg. the unions actually demanded a billion euros more per year for primary education. In addition, smaller kindergarten groups and more staff are needed.
The agreement 15a with the federal states was discussed today in the National Council and must be finally approved on Friday. There would have been room for improvement, but it has not been used, criticizes the ÖGB. The NEOS are also demanding significantly more money and better conditions in kindergartens and nurseries. Education spokeswoman Martina Künsberg Sarre criticized the government for missing the opportunity to improve conditions with a “discouraged” package.
NEOS: another two billion needed
The NEOS refers to countries such as Denmark or Sweden, which top international rankings with more childcare staff and a legal right to a kindergarten. Taking this as a guideline, the state would have to spend more than two billion euros annually to create thousands of full-time jobs and improve quality. According to NEOS, this would not only benefit underprivileged families, but also – through mothers who would increasingly go to work – the labor market and the economy.
Source: Krone
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