German Daycare Centers See Decline in Trained Educators, Bertelsmann Stiftung Study Reveals

Decline in Qualified Staff Across German Daycare Centers

A recent study, the 'Ländermonitoring Frühkindliche Bildungssysteme' (State Monitoring of Early Childhood Education Systems), conducted by the Bertelsmann Stiftung, has revealed a concerning decline in the proportion of trained educators working in German daycare centers (Kitas). The findings, presented on September 30, 2025, indicate that an increasing number of individuals without formal pedagogical qualifications are being employed to fill staffing gaps, raising significant questions about the quality of early childhood education in the country.

Key Findings and Regional Disparities

The study highlights that in 2024, only 30.7 percent of Kita teams across Germany had more than eight out of ten pedagogically active staff members possessing a relevant qualification. This represents a decrease of over one percentage point from the previous year and a substantial ten percentage point drop compared to 2017. The analysis, which included data up to March 1, 2024, showed that the share of Kitas with a high proportion of qualified staff decreased in ten federal states between 2023 and 2024.

Significant regional disparities were observed:

• The highest proportion of qualified staff was found in Thuringia, with an average of 90 percent, and specifically in the district of Sömmerda, reaching 94 percent.
• Conversely, Bavaria recorded the lowest average proportion at just 54.5 percent, with some areas showing as low as 3.6 percent. Hamburg also had a notably low figure of 14 percent.
• Between 2017 and 2024, 14 out of 16 federal states experienced a decline in the proportion of qualified staff, with Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Berlin, and North Rhine-Westphalia seeing the most significant drops of 19, 17, and 16 percentage points, respectively.

A 'high Fachkraftquote' (qualified staff ratio) is defined by the study as at least 82.5 percent of pedagogical staff holding a relevant technical college degree, a benchmark based on a recommendation from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs.

Causes and Consequences for Early Childhood Education

The Bertelsmann Stiftung attributes the ongoing decline to several factors, including a persistent shortage of qualified personnel and financial pressures on municipalities. The increasing reliance on individuals from other professional fields to undertake pedagogical tasks, while potentially easing immediate staffing needs, raises concerns about maintaining professional standards. Experts also point to the lack of support and recognition for the early childhood education profession, coupled with lengthy and often unpaid training periods, as deterrents for potential educators.

The consequences of this trend are far-reaching, posing a risk to the overall quality of early childhood education. Daycare centers are reportedly operating with insufficient staff, leading to reduced quality of care, limited opening hours, and, in some cases, concerns about children's safety. The situation also contributes to overstretched and overworked staff, potentially exacerbating the shortage as professionals leave the field.

Calls for Action and Future Outlook

In response to these findings, the Bertelsmann Stiftung has called for urgent action, including financial relief for municipalities and sustained co-financing of early childhood education by federal and state governments. There are also demands for the implementation of uniform quality standards, potentially through a federal Kita law, to ensure consistent quality across the country. To meet the recommended staff-to-child ratios, an estimated 120,000 additional educators would be required. Experts emphasize the need to make the profession more attractive through better working conditions, manageable hours, and improved wages, alongside increased training capacities and the integration of qualified lateral entrants.