Berlin Education Senator Advocates Mandatory Preschool Starting at Age Three

Katharina Günther-Wünsch argues for a constitutional change to improve early childhood education access across Germany.

Berlin's Education Senator Katharina Günther-Wünsch supports mandatory preschool attendance starting at age three, citing educational benefits backed by research.
She highlighted international examples, such as New Zealand and England, where similar early education programs are already in place.
The proposal would require changes to Germany's Basic Law, as education policy on this scale cannot be decided at the state level.
Günther-Wünsch acknowledged existing challenges, including legal hurdles and the need for broader federal support to implement the idea.
Currently, Berlin mandates a 'Kita-Chancenjahr,' requiring children with insufficient German language skills to attend preschool or language programs for at least one year before starting school.