State Secretary for Education Jessica Heide presented the certificates during a formal ceremony: “Those who work in daycare centers are shaping the future—every single day. Because quality early childhood education is the key to equal opportunities, successful educational pathways, and genuine participation. Language plays a central role in this: it is the gateway to education, to community, and to finding one’s own voice. With our state-wide initiative ‘Startklar Deutsch – Every Opportunity for Every Child,’ we are addressing this issue early on. We ensure that language support is systematic, mandatory, and accessible to all children. Our graduates are a crucial part of this approach: They sensitively guide children in their linguistic and personal development and lay the foundation for every child to be heard and to contribute. The diverse range of training programs offered by htw saar brings together people with different backgrounds, promotes specializations, and strengthens important future-oriented topics such as language education and intercultural competence. Ultimately, it is the children who benefit most from this—and thus our entire society.”
During the event, a total of 44 graduates received their certificates for the “Early Childhood Education” adaptation course. The course is aimed at individuals with foreign or non-Saarland qualifications, as well as people from other professions who have received a recognition notice with corresponding conditions from the Ministry of Education and Culture. Successful completion is a prerequisite for working as a qualified professional in a Saarland childcare facility.
In addition, 16 participants successfully completed the part-time certificate program “Nursery Education.” The three-semester program provides in-depth skills for educational work with children in their early years. Well-trained professionals are particularly important during this sensitive developmental phase.
Another 15 graduates received their certificates in the field of “Language, Diversity Sensitivity, and Intercultural Education.” This part-time program, offered in cooperation with htw saar, qualifies professionals specifically for work in language-focused daycare centers. At the same time, it ties directly into the new state program “Startklar Deutsch – All Opportunities for All Children”: professionals are prepared to systematically observe language development, provide targeted support, and individually assist children during the so-called “Year of Educational Opportunities.”
Prof. Dr. Charis Förster, Program Director at htw saar: “The graduates have demonstrated how committed and eager to learn they are. They bring diverse professional experiences, cultural backgrounds, and great motivation to the table. This combination not only enriches the educational work in the daycare centers but also strengthens the quality of early childhood education in Saarland. We are pleased that htw saar can make an important contribution to securing and further developing the supply of skilled workers through these programs.”
The Saarland has consistently expanded its training capacities in the field of early childhood education in recent years. Since 2019, the number of prospective early childhood educators has increased by around ten percent annually. The goal remains to sustainably strengthen both the quality and the human resources in Saarland’s daycare centers