Education - Link fewer music and art in schools
The Pisa Offensive at Bavarian primary schools may, according to concerns of associations, come at the expense of Music and Art instruction. From the coming school year, as a reaction to the poor Pisa results, more Mathematics and German are to be scheduled. Primary schools are therefore allowed, within the guidelines of the Ministry of Education, to decide themselves how much English, Music, Art, Work and Shape (WG) they will teach. Fact is, hours will have to be cut in that area. Teacher and choir associations warn against misplaced priorities.
"This is an absolute disaster," said the President of the Franconian Singers' Association, Friedhelm Brusniak. This is reportedly the largest Choir association in Bavaria. It is completely wrong to believe that Music instruction is no longer necessary in primary school. If children do not come into contact with singing or making music in school or at home, they will never get the idea to sing in a choir or learn an instrument.
The Bavarian Philologists' Association and the Real School Teachers' Association also warn against cuts in Music, Art or WG. These subjects are important for the development of Children, as expert Christoph Brunk stated. "They foster age-appropriate and playful not only creativity and aesthetic perception, but also social competence and emotional intelligence." To get more room for more Math and German, English instruction must be reduced. This could be intensively taught from the further education school on. The Philologists' Association sees it the same way.
The Bavarian Teachers' and Teachers' Association (BLLV) justifies that primary schools can decide within the time schedule which focal points they set. President Simone Fleischmann stated that this could best be decided, considering the teacher shortage, what can be implemented. The trend shows that most cuts will come in WG, as there are generally too few subject-specific teachers. Many schools decided to reduce English instruction from two to one hour.
The BLLV still sees extending the number of hours in primary school as a solution for not cutting subjects, but also in view of the right to full-day care in primary school from 2026. Fleischmann also sees this as an opportunity to offer more musical education in primary schools. "A lot has been left behind the last few years," said President Alexander Seebacher, looking back at the Corona time and personnel shortage. Then, music associations could supplement the care offer.
Info on the Pisa Offensive BLLV on subject mergers in the musical-artistic area.
- Despite the Pisa Offensive in Bavarian elementary schools potentially reducing Music and Art instruction, Simone Fleischmann, the President of the BLLV, believes that primary schools should decide their focus, considering the teacher shortage.
- The Bavarian Philologists' Association and the Real School Teachers' Association caution against reducing Music, Art, or WG, as these subjects are crucial for the development of Children, fostering their creativity, aesthetic perception, social competence, and emotional intelligence.
- The Franconian Singers' Association, led by President Friedhelm Brusniak, strongly opposes the belief that Music instruction is no longer necessary in primary schools, arguing that children should be introduced to singing and making music in school or at home to encourage interest in choirs and instruments.
- Nuremberg-based Children, attending elementary schools in Bavaria, may experience reduced exposure to Art, Music, and WG due to the Pisa Offensive, which prioritizes Mathematics and German.
- With the right to full-day care in primary schools starting in 2026, the BLLV sees an opportunity to offer more musical education, potentially collaborating with music associations like Simone Fleischmann suggested, to combat the losses experienced during the Corona pandemic and personnel shortage.
