Decision or answer provided for a problem or issue. - Parents call for increased flexibility in school pick-up schedules.
To accommodate multiple requests from parents seeking more flexible pick-up times, schools in Lower Saxony will have greater freedom to do so. Starting from the school year 2024-25, full-day schools in the state can introduce additional pick-up times, as announced by the Cultural Ministry in Hannover.
Cultural Minister Julia Willie Hamburg (Greens) stated that this regulation will particularly benefit younger students, providing them with better balance between their school hours and personal leisure time. The new measure is set to be implemented as a coalition project by the red-green state government.
The German state has introduced this policy in response to demands emerging from educational authorities. The Ministry has also revised the "Working in the Full-Day School" regulation, informing both state-run schools and regional educational authorities about the new development. Some schools have indicated they plan to implement the additional pick-up times this year.
Notably, the political body stressed that schools will decide whether the additional pick-up time requires committing for an entire school year or half a school year. Moreover, there are no related promotion requirements set by the government.
