- Academic body advocates for excursions to Nazi commemoration sites.
In the face of rising extremist right-wing tendencies, the student state representative in Hessen is advocating for increased funding in education about democracy within schools. Previous to the new academic year set to commence next Monday, Deputy State School Spokesperson Nele Vogel suggested: "To successfully curb the dissemination of right-wing ideologies, we insist on compulsory tours to memorial sites and historical sites from the Nazi era. Only through hands-on learning from the past can we sensitize young individuals and avoid history from repeating itself."
This student state representative is actively pushing for the profound integration of the Nazi era into the curriculum of all educational institutions within Hessen, with a strong focus on reaching students who do not attend higher secondary education.
Expansion of after-school care centers in primary schools
Thorsten Sprenger, the Deputy Chair of the State Parents' Council, urged for a faster pace in expanding after-school care in primary schools: "Politicians must allocate adequate financial resources long-term and guarantee the uniformity in quality of offers throughout the entirety of Hessen." The legal entitlement to after-school care for primary school students is planned to be gradually implemented nationwide from 2026.
The Education and Science Union (GEW) anticipates that the teacher shortage will intensify further. Particularly affected are classes up to intersectional school-leaving certificates (lower secondary level), particularly comprehensive schools and vocational schools. "The number of unoccupied teaching positions was already approximately a thousand last academic year," GEW State Chairman Thilo Hartmann criticized.
Alternative paths into teaching profession
"He added that better educational opportunities at universities and in the preparatory service are urgently required. Additionally, the 'lateral entry' for pre-qualified substitute teachers, as promised in the coalition agreement of the black-red state government, should be implemented at an accelerated pace."
The student state representative's push for incorporating the Nazi era into education extends beyond higher secondary education, aiming to ensure comprehensive understanding of history in all educational institutions.
To effectively combat extremism, it's crucial that subsequent generations are educated about the past, emphasizing the importance of allocating sufficient resources to education about democracy within schools.
