North Rhine‑Westphalia earmarks €840 million for kindergarten expansion

The state government of North Rhine‑Westphalia announced an additional €840 million in funding for the expansion, modernization and digitalisation of kindergartens (Kitas). The money comes from federal compensation payments for tax losses and will be allocated through 2029 for new places, facility upgrades and digital equipment such as devices for language promotion.

Family Minister Verena Schäffer highlighted the investment as a historic level of resources for early‑childhood education, complementing the state’s existing plan that provides a further €700 million through 2036. The programme also includes permanent integration of practice‑integrated apprenticeship (PiA‑K) positions from the 2027/28 school year and the use of “profile‑relevant” staff in off‑peak hours.

According to the government, the number of kindergarten places in NRW has risen from about 590,000 in the 2016/17 year to an expected 680,000 in the 2026/27 year, with an additional 60,000 spots in child‑care homes. The state intends to spend more than €6.2 billion on early‑childhood education by 2026, marking the highest level of investment to date.