Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

I spoke to my contact Ms Baumgarten. She explained to me that early childhood education is taken very seriously in Germany. Yet, there are many challenges as well. Families who are dependent child care often choose extended families or neighbors since other programs are rather expensive. Once children turn four, they can join Kindergarten but it is hard to get in. Kindergarten is not mandatory. Most parents have to reserve a place for their children when they first find out they have conceived. Depending on the area, the quality of the programs differ significantly. Kindergarten teachers have less of an educational requirement than school teachers. However, they still have to complete schooling and an apprenticeship for 2 years before being allowed to teach children. New teachers a often paired with a mentor teacher for several years as well. However, the challenges often come after completing their training. Once they are done, not many opportunities are provided to expand their knowledge or advance.
Ms Baumgarten professional goals right now are to educate herself more in her field. She has started taking up some more college classes but has explained to me that it is very  challenging. Germany does not really offer online universities so she has to take night classes at a college near where she lives. However, with a busy work schedule and family, she finds it very consuming. Her professional hopes are that Germany will offer more opportunities for early childhood professionals to expand their knowledge by offering workshops during school breaks or offering opportunities online.