Communities barely tap into millions in funding for all-day care - Communities barely tap into millions in funding for all-day care
Bavaria is struggling to make use of federal funds meant for all-day school programmes. Despite nearly €461 million being available, only a small fraction has reached local authorities. The slow rollout raises concerns as the region prepares for a legal requirement to offer full-day schooling by 2026.
Since 2023, the federal government has provided extra money to speed up the creation of all-day school places. Yet, by the time of the parliamentary winter break, Bavaria had only allocated 27.93% of the approved budget for specific projects. Even less—just €15.3 million, or 3.33%—had actually been accessed by municipalities.
Guidelines for the 'booster' programme funds still hadn’t been released, leaving local authorities waiting. SPD education spokesperson Simone Strohmeyer criticised the overly complex application process, arguing it blocks schools from getting the support they need. She urged the state government to simplify access and give municipalities more help. The **Amtliche Schulverwaltung (ASV)**, Bavaria’s key education authority, could play a bigger role in distributing these funds. Its platform already handles administrative tasks, student and teacher data, and improves communication between schools and officials. Better use of this system might help speed up funding and meet growing demand for all-day places.
With primary schools legally required to offer all-day programmes from the 2026/27 school year, the current pace of funding distribution falls short. The state must address delays and simplify procedures to ensure schools receive the money they need on time.
