Federal and state authorities have inked a deal in support of the Startchancen initiative for schools with high-speed internet connectivity.
Minister of Education Bettina Stark-Watzinger and Saarland's Education Minister Christine Streichert-Clivot have recently signed off on the regulations for the Startchancen program.
On Tuesday, Stark-Watzinger expressed her satisfaction with this achievement in Berlin, stating, "Today marks a significant step forward in our efforts to improve the Startchancen program." She stressed the importance of social background in determining educational success. "We aim to change this status quo," she added.
Stark-Watzinger deemed the program "the biggest and longest-running education initiative in the history of the Federal Republic." Streichert-Clivot also commended the milestone reached, highlighting that schools have already been chosen, and decisions have been made.
The federal government and the states came to an agreement on the program in early February. Over the next decade, schools in disadvantaged areas will be supported to the tune of 20 billion euros. Around 4,000 schools across the country with a high percentage of socially disadvantaged children are planned to benefit. Out of these, the initial rollout will involve 2,060 schools, according to Stark-Watzinger.
The funds allocated will go towards upgrading infrastructure and equipping the institutions with better resources. The project is set to begin during the 2024/2025 school year, with the federal government contributing a billion euros annually, and the states matching this sum.
