Legal entitlement to a full-time place: Revolution for Munich’s elementary school students!

Legal entitlement to a full-time place: Revolution for Munich’s elementary school students!

In Munich, more precisely in the Berg am Laim elementary school, the afternoon activity is reminiscent of a large, lively wave of energy. At least at 3 p.m. it's busy, as 450 of the 600 students spend their afternoons doing various activities. What's particularly striking is that 90 percent of first-graders take advantage of the offer. Headmaster Michael Hoderlein emphasizes that interest in the all-day concept has been increasing noticeably for years. This development is no exception, as over half of primary school students nationwide – around 1.8 million – have already found an afternoon option, like this BR.de reported.

The numbers speak for themselves: In Bavaria, around 60 percent of primary school children use afternoon care. A trend that has been increasing little by little since 2011, only interrupted by the pandemic in 2020/2021. With the newly decided legal entitlement to full-time places, which will apply to first graders from the 2026/2027 school year and will cover all primary school students from 2029/2030, this trend is on the fast track. A step in the right direction for parents - but the challenge is great.

Ready for tomorrow with legal rights

From 2024, parents in Germany will have a legal right to full-time places in primary schools. This happens gradually and is accompanied by various care offers. In Bavaria there will not only be classic teaching formats, but also a mix of private and public care. In concrete terms, this means that educators and teachers must work more closely together to meet the special needs of children. Simone Fleischmann, chairwoman of the Bavarian Teachers' Association, warns: "The quality of education must not be left behind." In this way, state resources are essential for expanding all-day care, but there are challenges such as a lack of staff and a lack of space.

A look beyond national borders offers interesting perspectives. The German school portal describes how the rhythm of lessons and all-day activities is a crucial quality factor. Movement and rest, theoretical learning and practical experiences – all of this must be harmoniously interlinked in order to do justice to the students. While tied all-day schools offer certain advantages, open all-day schools face challenges, especially with regard to staffing.

The route is the goal

A Prognos study from 2023 shows that many parents support the new legal entitlement: 67 percent of families in Bavaria want a full-day place. And the Bavarian Ministry of Social Affairs even expects that the need could increase to up to 80 percent if the legal claim takes effect. The Berg am Laim primary school is a model model. However, the school community must continue to collect specific needs figures and respond to parents' wishes in order to have a sound basis for future care.

The measures to implement the legal entitlement are not only a step towards improving the compatibility of family and work, but are also intended to promote equal opportunities in education. This also includes a scope of care of eight hours on all working days as well as securing the offers during the school holidays, which may be closed for a maximum of four weeks. Such framework conditions enable comprehensive support of children's social, emotional and physical development and at the same time improve the labor market situation for parents. A study by the German Institute for Economic Research shows that the expansion can increase mothers' employment by two to six percentage points, which is extremely important in times like these.

The journey into the future of all-day care has begun, but many challenges still have to be overcome in order not only to fulfill the requirement, but also to ensure it sustainably. This is not only a task for politicians, but also for the school community, which has to work with a good hand on a sustainable education system.