CDU-led NRW continues to lack backing from OGS
In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the legal claim for a care place in the Open Extended Day (OGS) will become effective starting from the 2026/27 school year. However, the expansion of high-quality OGS spots to meet the expected demand by 2027 remains uncertain due to several factors.
The demand for OGS spots is influenced by demographic changes, parental preferences, and employment rates. Regions with high demand might see more feasible expansions. However, regional differences in fees and charges could affect utilization rates. Higher parent fees and meal charges might deter some families, impacting demand.
The financial situation of municipalities and OGS carriers also plays a crucial role. Financially strained municipalities might struggle to support expansions, while private OGS carriers' financial health affects their ability to invest in new facilities or expand existing ones.
To align with expected demand by 2027, OGS expansions should consider demographic projections, financial planning, and policy support. Understanding population growth and family dynamics can help predict future demand. Municipalities and carriers must ensure sustainable funding models that can support expansions without overburdening parents with increased fees. Government policies and subsidies can significantly influence the feasibility and success of expansion plans.
Currently, NRW falls short of the state government's target of 430,000 OGS spots for primary school children by 2024. The state government expects that 80% of primary school children will need an OGS spot in the future, requiring an additional 200,000 spots to be created in the next 2.5 years.
SPD state parliamentarian Sonja Bongers has expressed concerns about the impact of the legal claim on families if there are not enough OGS spots by the 2026/27 school year. She also emphasizes the need for a high-quality OGS offer, stating that educational opportunities in NRW are currently determined by social origin and the financial equipment of the municipalities.
The current situation of OGS parent fees and meal charges, including regional differences, shows that many families are already struggling to cope with the costs. For instance, in some municipalities, families now pay around 65 euros per month for lunch in the OGS - compared to 2018, this corresponds to an increase in costs for families of almost 20%.
Despite the cries for help from the carrier landscape and the municipal associations, the draft budget for the coming year 2025 does not provide for an increase in the dynamic, according to Bongers, which raises concerns about the ability to meet the future demand for OGS spots in NRW.
- The demand for education-and-self-development opportunities, such as Open Extended Day (OGS) spots, in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) could be impacted by political decisions, given SPD state parliamentarian Sonja Bongers' concern about the legal claim on families if there aren't enough OGS spots by the 2026/27 school year.
- The future of general news in NRW might revolve around the feasibility of meeting the expected demand for OGS spots by 2027, as regions with high demand might see more feasible expansions, but the financial situation of municipalities and OGS carriers could hinder these expansions, according to Bongers.
