Research Findings: High Number of Instances Spotted in Heidelberg and Ulm
In a recent survey conducted by the Institute of German Economy Cologne and the Max Planck Institute for Social Research, it was found that wealthier neighbourhoods in the 54 largest cities across North Rhine-Westphalia are better served with Kindergarten facilities compared to their poorer counterparts.
The survey, which focused on the service levels in wealthy neighbourhoods compared to poorer ones, did not specify the nature or type of services being compared. However, it highlighted the crucial role of early childhood education and care (ECEC) services, which are essential for enabling employment for parents and for addressing broader socioeconomic inequalities.
The findings of the survey suggest that wealthier districts can more effectively demand and support such infrastructure, leading to better service coverage. In contrast, disadvantaged areas face challenges such as limited funding, lower local investment, and less effective policy implementation, resulting in fewer available facilities.
Interestingly, the survey results indicate that confessional Kitas serve affluent neighbourhoods about 20 percent better than the city average. Public Kitas are similarly common in both affluent and disadvantaged areas, but privately run Kitas that receive public funding make a difference. On the other hand, the most socially disadvantaged areas are 13 percent less well served by Kitas.
In terms of specific cities, the study found that Heidelberg and Ulm, cities in Baden-Württemberg, have the best ratio of children aged six and under to accessible Kitas, with 61 children in Heidelberg and 71 in Ulm. Frankfurt am Main came in third with 72 children in the preschool age per accessible facility. No specific city or neighbourhood in North Rhine-Westphalia was named in the survey results.
It's worth noting that the survey results pertain to the 54 largest cities in North Rhine-Westphalia and did not specify whether the services in question were public or private. Furthermore, the survey findings were not compared to any other region or city in Germany.
The survey results underscore the need for more equitable distribution of ECEC services across neighbourhoods and cities, particularly in disadvantaged areas. Addressing this disparity will require concerted efforts to address systemic resource gaps and policy design choices that do not sufficiently address spatial inequalities.
The survey findings suggest that wealthier districts can demand and support not only better Kindergarten facilities but also other essential services such as science, health-and-wellness, education-and-self-development, as they are more effectively served. On the other hand, disadvantaged areas face challenges in accessing various services, including early childhood education and care (ECEC), science, health-and-wellness, and education-and-self-development due to limited funding, lower local investment, and less effective policy implementation.
