Thuringian Minister of Education - Holter calls for education to be included in the Basic Law
In view of the poor results of German pupils in the Pisa study, Thuringia's Education Minister Helmut Holter has called for more federal involvement in education issues. "The federal government must also make a permanent financial commitment to education," the Left Party politician told the German Press Agency in Erfurt. He called for the "joint task of education" to be enshrined in the Basic Law.
Divided school system a failure?
The Conference of Education Ministers, which also wanted to discuss the PISA results, has been taking place in Berlin since Thursday. Following the poor performance of German pupils, there have been calls for a special conference of minister presidents to discuss the results.
Holter questioned the structured school system. "In Germany, and also in Thuringia, the fourth grade basically determines a child's school career and therefore also their life biography." However, international experience has shown that longer joint learning is the answer to what Pisa and other studies have revealed.
Commitment to federal and state programs called for
With regard to the budget crisis at federal level, Holter warned of the impact on the planned Digital Pact 2.0 and the Start Opportunities program. "In terms of content, we are clear, but the financial backing is lacking," said Holter on the Start Opportunities Program. He had expected the program to be finalized on Friday. This is no longer to be expected due to the budget discussion. The program is intended to provide 4000 schools in difficult situations with special state funding worth billions in the coming years.
According to Holter, there is also still no certainty regarding a follow-up program to the digital pact from 2025. "We need to catch up," said Holter and called for "a clear commitment to the Digital Pact 2.0". However, the two do not have to be linked, said Holter.
In Germany,education is a matter for the federal states, which is also enshrined in the Basic Law. In recent years, however, the federal government has increasingly contributed financially - for example with a programme for digitalization, the so-called Digital Pact. Holter renewed his call to abandon the so-called cooperation ban in the Basic Law. "I am convinced that, especially when it comes to money, the prohibition on cooperation must become a requirement for cooperation," he said.
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- Despite Germany's poor performance in the Pisa study, which was discussed at the Conference of Education Ministers in Berlin, Thuringia's Education Minister Helmut Holter advocates for education to be included in the Basic Law.
- The League politician Holter, from Thuringia, criticizes Germany's structured school system, stating that the outcome of a child's school career and life biography is often determined by their performance in the fourth grade.
- At a press conference in Erfurt, Holter urged the federal government to make a permanent financial commitment to education, citing international studies that suggest longer joint learning as an effective solution.
- Regarding budget constraints at the federal level, Holter voiced concerns about the impact on programs like Digital Pact 2.0 and the Start Opportunities program, which intend to support schools in challenging situations in Germany.
- As part of the ongoing conference of education ministers in Thuringia, Helmut Holter has also called for the abandonment of the so-called cooperation ban in the Basic Law, which prohibits cooperation between the federal and state governments in some areas.
- After analyzing the results of the Pisa study, it was reported by the German Press Agency that the Thuringian state, like other regions in Germany, is underperforming in education, causing concern among politicians and educators alike.
Source: www.stern.de
