Federal funding now for Lutzerath: schoolyard and toilets are being renovated!

Federal funding now for Lutzerath: schoolyard and toilets are being renovated!

The expansion of all-day schools in Germany continues to take shape, and concrete measures are being taken in the region around Lutzerath. As the Rhine newspaper reported, the federal government's basic funds for this purpose will now be used for the Lutzerath elementary school instead of, as originally planned, for the Burg elementary school in Ulmen. This decision was made by the local council after intensive discussions with the responsible supervisory authorities.

The financial support aims to renovate the student toilets and redesign the schoolyard. These measures come at a time when the federal government is pushing ahead with its extensive plans to expand all-day care places for primary school children.

Nationwide initiative to expand full-day places

As part of a significant investment program for all-day expansion, Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger and Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus have signed an administrative agreement. The federal government is making around three billion euros available by the end of 2027 to support the expansion of all-day care places, which is directly linked to the latest developments in Lutzerath, as these funds help to ensure high-quality care.

From August 1, 2026, a gradual legal right to all-day care for primary school children will be introduced, starting with the first grade. This entitlement is to be expanded by one grade level every year, so that from August 1, 2029, all primary school children up to the fourth grade are legally entitled to full-day care. The aim is to support the federal states in creating appropriate care places.

Social significance of all-day care

The socio-political relevance of the all-day expansion is emphasized by Minister Paus. She emphasizes that the initiative not only helps support children, but also improves the compatibility of family and work. It is also expected that all-day care will help reduce poverty and combat the shortage of skilled workers. Minister Stark-Watzinger points out that the expansion of all-day care also increases equal opportunities and improves educational opportunities.

Currently, around 50 percent of primary school children use a full-day program, while the need is estimated at 75 to 80 percent. In order to close this gap, the federal government has set up a special fund for the expansion of all-day education and care offerings, which provides financial aid of up to 3.5 billion euros. Of this amount, around 500 million euros have already been used to advance the initiative.

The developments in Lutzerath and the nationwide measures are therefore closely linked to one another and mark an important step towards better care and education for all primary school children in Germany.