Free nursery throughout the country. Kulisy Program Active Parent

Free nursery facilities became a fact – at least according to the government. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced success of the program Active Parent, which was to drastically increase the number of free places for the youngest. The numbers make an impression: 150,000 free seats in daycare, and the average monthly fee was to fall from 999.93 zł to 98.30 zł. But does it truly look so pink? Or is it just a clever political narrative?

150,000 free seats? We're checking the facts.

Active Parent Program started October 1, 2024and its main nonsubjective is to support parents of children aged 12 to 35 months. As part of the programme, the number of free places in nurseries would increase 128,000.Which truly sounds impressive. The problem is that many local governments are inactive struggling with shortages of facilities and care facilities.

What does this mean in practice?

• In large cities the availability of free nursery is inactive limited – parents complain about long queues And no seats.
• In smaller towns of nursery frequently There is noso the benefit is not applicable.
• Private facilities inactive reluctant receive children under the programme, indicating under-financing.

Free nursery? What about hidden charges?

According to government data, the average monthly nursery fee was set to fall 10 times – from almost 1000 PLN to PLN 98.30. But what about the parents themselves?

In fact, many facilities introduces additional feeswhich are not covered by the programme. Parents complain of:

• Higher food costswhich may even be PLN 500-700 per month.
• Fees for additional classeswhich were previously included in tuition.
• Hidden administrative costs – registration, insurance or contributions to the ‘repair fund’.

Active Parent – Who pays for it?

The program offers three different benefits Financial:

1. Active Parents at Work – 1500 PLN per kid per month, if both parents work and are subject to social insurance.
2. Active in the nursery – to 1500 PLN per child to cover the cost of care (1900 PLN for children with a disability ruling).
3. Active at Home – 500 PLN per period for those who decide to stay with the kid at home.

Sounds good? It's just...

• Single mothers they must meet strict working conditions, which excludes many of them.
• Business parents are in a worse situation – their contributions must be at least 30% of the minimum salary.
• Families with 1 child were previously completely overlooked, now they can number on support – but only PLN 500 A month.

What about funding? Will the program survive?

Each social programme involves costs – and in the case of Active Parent We're talking about billions of dollars a year. The government ensures that backing comes from the state budget and from the support of local governments.

However, experts warn:

• Local governments now They are facing financial problemsand the cost of surviving nursery care increases.
• The increase in free seats does not mean that daycare abruptly arrived In many regions, infrastructure is not keeping pace with demand.
• Future budget cuts may reduce the backing of the programme, which may mean a return to advanced fees.

Is Active Parent has he truly solved the problem of access to nursery care in Poland? Not really.. Yes, the number of free places increased, and any families actually benefited from fresh support. However, the problem of unequal access, hidden fees and possible financing problems remains unresolved.

Whether the programme survives a test of time depends on budgetary decisions in the following years. Will the government have the means to keep specified a large subsidy? Or possibly in a fewer years, it's just another. political promise without cover?