The Eigenbetrieb Kindertagesstätten Offenbach (EKO) was represented with a stand at the vocatium trade fair on May 22 and 23 to present the work in the city's daycare centers and to inspire future trainees for the profession. The vocational training fair was primarily aimed at young people who are about to graduate from school and who were able to gain an impression of the training companies, technical colleges, universities and institutions at the fair.
The EKO was located in the halls of Messe Offenbach between the stands of the city administration and the municipal utilities. Many interested young people had booked consultation appointments in advance to talk to a specialist at the stand for around 20 minutes about the profession and receive individual advice. Many young people do not yet know exactly what career path they want to take when they leave school. A careers fair like vocatium is exactly the right place to find out. At the Eigenbetrieb stand, interest was aroused in the job profile and work at the EKO, with specialists talking directly to the young people. Ann-Kathrin Hinz, who is responsible for training coordination at EKO, is delighted that many young people gained an insight into early childhood education and pedagogical activities at the fair.
There are different ways to become a specialist in a municipal daycare center (EKO-Kita) in Offenbach: Above all, a distinction is made between the "classic" 5-year full-time school-based training followed by a year of recognition and the 3-year practice-integrated remunerated training (PivA). The latter is remunerated from the outset with a gross salary of 1,340.69 euros in the first year of training, 1,402.07 euros in the second year and 1,503.38 euros in the third year. In comparison: According to the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), training as an industrial clerk is paid around 1,100 euros gross, and dental assistants earn a good 1,000 euros gross during their training. After their training at the EKO, qualified specialists are hired directly at level 2 in accordance with TVöD S8b and therefore currently receive a gross salary of 3,598.79 euros (as of the collective agreement in May 2024).
The EKO is traditionally a training company and currently employs around 600 people, 41 of whom are prospective specialists. If you would like to find out more about the EKO and its training opportunities, you will find what you are looking for on the website of the City of Offenbach.
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