Federal government promotes OER basic qualification for all-day school staff without pedagogical training

The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) is launching the funding of projects for the competence development of all-day school staff without pedagogical training under the funding guideline OE_KoGat. The guideline dated August 20, 2026, was published in the Federal Gazette (BAnz AT 14.09.2026 B1) on September 14, 2026, and entered into force upon publication. Project sketches can be submitted until November 10, 2026.

Objective and Background

The funding builds upon the federal “OER Strategy – Open Educational Resources for the Development of Digital Education” and relies on Open Educational Resources (OER) and Open Educational Practices (OEP). The basis is the qualification concept “Competent in All-Day Care” (KoGat), a curriculum available to qualification providers in all federal states that can be adapted to different all-day models. The goal is to establish sustainable structures for the qualification of staff without pedagogical training in all-day educational and care services.

The funding follows an integrated approach consisting of development, model implementation, transfer, and impact analysis. Only projects whose results are transferable beyond the sphere of influence of a single state or provider and provide nationwide added value will be funded.

Three Funding Formats

Funding is provided in three interlocking formats:

• Format A “Develop and Disseminate OER/OEP”: Development and high-impact preparation of learning materials based on the entire KoGat curriculum, including self-study offers.
• Format B “Test Basic Qualifications”: Several model projects that develop, implement, and test practice-oriented basic qualifications.
• Format C “Scientific Program and Impact Monitoring”: One project for the scientific monitoring of the overall program, independent of operational tasks.

In Formats A and B, multiple projects can be funded; in Format C, only one project. The duration is a maximum of 30 months for Format B, and a maximum of 36 months for Formats A and C. The aim is at least 30 openly licensed learning materials, at least 15 digital self-study offers, and at least five implemented and documented basic qualifications.

Eligible Applicants and Procedure

Eligible applicants are associations and federations, legal entities under public law, non-profit companies, foundations, as well as state and non-state universities and non-university research institutions. The grants are awarded as non-repayable subsidies by way of project funding; non-commercial projects by universities and research institutions can be funded up to 100 percent.

The application process is designed in two stages. In the first stage, project outlines must be submitted by November 10, 2026, via the OER strategy homepage at www.oer-strategie.de/oe_kogat/. In the second stage, authors of positively evaluated outlines will be requested to submit a formal funding application via the “easy-Online” system.

Project Management and Legal Basis

The German Aerospace Center e. V. (DLR Projektträger), Division of Education, Gender, Digitalization in Education, keyword OE_KoGat, Heinrich-Konen-Straße 1, 53227 Bonn, has been commissioned with the administration. Technical contact persons are Daniela Bickler (0228/3821 1003) and Nina Grüter (0228/3821 1374); inquiries via email to ganztag@dlr.de.

The grants are awarded in accordance with Sections 23 and 44 of the Federal Budget Code (BHO) and as state aid on the basis of Article 25 of the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) of the European Commission. The guideline is limited until June 30, 2027, and at the latest until December 31, 2030. The announcement was signed on behalf of Bettina Schwertfeger.

The funding is aimed at qualification providers and providers of all-day education and care nationwide. It contributes to the structural quality development of all-day offers and ensures that the developed materials are available free of charge and reusable as open educational resources.

Source: Bundesanzeiger, Official Part, September 14, 2026, pp. 1–15 (official reference: BAnz AT 14.09.2026 B1).