Amplifying Language Learning: Germany's Future-Focused Kita Model Project
Project Kita-Model endeavors to enhance language advancement - Language Enhancement Initiative: The Goal Behind the Kit Model Proposal
Germany is stepping up its game in education, especially concerning language promotion for young children. In response to a CDU state parliamentary group's inquiry, the Ministry of Education in Potsdam has announced the launch of a new model project in several kindergartens starting from the 2025/2026 school year.
At present, language assessments are conducted for children in kindergartens a year before school entry. This process is slated to evolve, moving the tests to be conducted a year earlier, setting the stage for a more proficient start in school. Present language development programs in kindergartens will persist, but they will also extend to after-school care facilities for pupils in the first two primary school grades. To ensure the continuity and effectiveness of these efforts, additional personnel will be recruited.
The existing "Kindergarten Language Test" will remain as a testing procedure until 2027, before being replaced by the "Language Screening for Preschool Children" program. As of May 2023, 70 public and private kindergartens have expressed interest in participating in the model project. Each participating kindergarten must have a language expert capable of evaluating the children's language skills and be acquainted with the "Action and Language" language development program. Moreover, kindergartens should be equipped to care for children with language development issues and offer scientific accompaniment for the project.
The main objective of the model project is to optimize language development for multilingual children. Special language development resources will be allocated to foreign students with deficient German language skills. These students might benefit from preparation groups and promotion courses as early as the 2024/2025 school year.
The model project will shed light on whether the "Action and Language" program is compatible with the language screening process and works effectively among younger children. Only after assessing the scientific backing of the project can modifications to current language development measures be made, according to the ministry.
Early Childhood Education Landscape in Germany
In Germany, "Kita" (Kindertagesstätte) signifies daycare centers or preschools that encourage early childhood education and care. The German government has been fostering these services through various initiatives, such as the Kinderförderungsgesetz (Childcare Funding Act), which granted children a legal right to attend a Kita or a family daycare service since 2013. Similarly, the Childcare Quality Act seeks to elevate the quality of childcare services, addressing factors like needs-based services, staff-to-child ratios, leadership, and childhood development promotion. Language education is a crucial component of early childhood development in German Kitas, albeit specifics about the Kita Model Project remain unclear in the broader context of these initiatives.
In the forthcoming Kita Model Project in Germany, special attention will be given to enhancing language development, particularly for multilingual children, through vocational training of educators. The project aims to implement the "Action and Language" language development program in various Kita facilities, promoting education-and-self-development and ensuring continuity in learning.
Vocational training will be instrumental in equipping educators with the skills to assess children's language skills effectively, provide necessary support, and manage the Language Screening for Preschool Children program. The ultimate goal is to optimize language development for children, ensuring a strong foundation for their future education.
