A recent national survey has revealed that only a small percentage of Danish kindergartens offer a good pedagogical learning environment, prompting calls for immediate action to improve the quality of childcare. Several trade unions and organizations are urging for more trained staff and resources to address the issue.

The survey results have sparked concern among various stakeholders, including the trade union FOA. FOA’s vice-chairman, Thomas Enghausen, expressed his disappointment and emphasized the need for more colleagues in day care centers. He highlighted the feeling of inadequacy among current staff and the lack of resources to create small groups of children, which are essential for their well-being, especially those in vulnerable positions. Enghausen stressed that increasing the number of trained educators and pedagogical assistants is crucial.

Børns Vilkår (Children’s Conditions) echoes the concern about the shortage of educators and the inadequacy of their education. Director Rasmus Kjeldahl stated that insufficient progress has been made since the last quality assessment, leaving many children without consistent high-quality care. He emphasized the need for immediate action within the existing resources.

Bupl, the educators’ trade union, also joins the appeal. Bupl chairman Elisa Rimpler noted that the low percentage of staff with educator training compromises the pedagogical quality children deserve.

The Minister for Children and Education, Mattias Tesfaye, acknowledged the insufficient quality in kindergartens and admitted that investments were initiated too late. He mentioned the recent increase in hiring, significant wage increases, and the development of a new educator education program. Tesfaye vowed to closely monitor the quality in the coming period, expecting significantly better results in the future.