Gelsenkirchen: Childcare in Focus – Finance, Safety, and Staff Shortages

Safety Incidents and Internal Reactions

During the 17th February meeting of the GeKita Works Council, two serious incidents were discussed:

• A 32-year-old educator was arrested on 21.11.2025 on suspicion of producing and distributing child pornography.
• A 41-year-old educator was suspected of possessing child pornography (since April 2025).

The AfD Council faction called for a status report that would address the affected kindergartens, internal security measures, steps to prevent future incidents, and support for those affected.

These incidents demonstrate how sensitive the childcare sector is and how important it is to establish more transparent safety measures. Although checks were conducted by external entities such as the Treuhand West GmbH, the question remains whether the current security level is sufficient to protect parents and staff.

Funding and Financial Pressure

The financial situation of GeKita is marked by significant fluctuations and deficits. In 2021, a deficit of 968,529.83 euros occurred, despite a profit carryforward of 4.545 million euros. In 2022, the deficit rose to 1.679 million euros.

Funding is primarily provided through public subsidies, including the KiBiz lump sum, subsidies from North Rhine-Westphalia, and support for language promotion, family centers, and integrated facilities. The rental costs for the facilities amounted to 7.048 million euros in 2021.

A particular issue is the shortage of qualified staff, which has financial implications. The KiBiz lump sum can only be fully utilized if sufficient qualified personnel are employed. Otherwise, the risk of millions in repayments arises. In the years 2020/2021 and 2021/2022, GeKita might have had to repay up to 1.414 million euros.

Staff Shortages and Training

The lack of educators and therapeutic specialists is a central issue. Unfilled positions lead to closures of kindergartens or the need to hire agency staff. Personnel costs increased from 63.5 million euros in 2020 to 67.7 million euros in 2021.

GeKita is addressing the issue through practical training integration and annual internships. In addition, plans for new training positions in fields such as therapeutic care and childcare are in development. In 2026, 70 trainees in therapeutic care and 59 in education are planned.

Despite these measures, the staff shortage remains a strategic risk that cannot be fully resolved by wage increases and dual study programs.

Outlook and Need for Reform

GeKita faces several challenges:

• Safety measures must be more transparent and preventive.
• Funding and cost control are crucial for long-term stability.
• Training and personnel policy must be a priority to reduce the shortage of qualified staff.
• Digitalization and better communication platforms – such as the planned kindergarten app – could strengthen parent engagement.

The 2026 economic plan aims for a balanced result, which is a positive signal. However, it remains to be seen whether the planned investments in new facilities and training positions will meet the growing demands in the long term.

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