- Progressive advocates propose grassroots movement for school reforms
The left-wing party in Saxony-Anhalt intends to amplify its push for preserving all existing elementary schools by initiating a public movement. As per their statement, "The educational infrastructure has been significantly diminished due to the numerous school closures over the past 25 years. Any additional school closure is therefore unnecessary." This sentiment will be conveyed during a state party conference in September, as part of a motion to be deliberated.
This public movement aims to influence the education law. The primary objectives should involve legislating explicit provisions for effective class composition and school size, thereby eliminating the room for arbitrary interventions by school administrators in municipal school planning.
A draft from the Ministry of Education suggests increasing the minimum enrollment for first-grade classes in primary schools and classes in secondary schools to 25. For primary and secondary schools situated outside major and urban centers, the minimum enrollment should be 20. However, this proposal is yet to be finalized.
In September, a new state executive board will be chosen during the Left party conference. Current state chairpersons, Janina Boettger and Hendrik Lange, have expressed their intention to reclaim their positions. Additionally, a conclusive motion will be passed, based on the latest election results, to emphasize the importance of equal living conditions. Boettger shared this intention with dpa.
The public movement initiated by the left-wing party aims to reprint and widely distribute their stance on preserving schools, highlighting the unnecessary closure of educational institutions. Once the new state executive board is elected in September, they plan to reintroduce this reprinted movement as part of their motion to protect existing elementary schools.