Senate plans hundreds of school places in refugee accommodation
Due to a lack of space at regular schools in Berlin, hundreds of young refugees are now to be taught directly in the large Tegel and Tempelhof accommodation centers. Welcome classes will be set up for them there, Senator for Education Katharina Günther-Wünsch announced after a Senate meeting on Tuesday.
"We are currently not fulfilling our constitutional obligation to grant refugee children and young people the right to education," said the CDU politician. The establishment of welcome classes at central locations is therefore an important step towards preparing young immigrants to attend a regular school.
Many people of school age in the accommodation facilities
According to the senator, around 560 school-age children and young people are currently housed in the accommodation at the former Tegel Airport, which largely consists of lightweight halls. In the accommodation at the former Tempelhof Airport, there are currently significantly fewer at 20 to 30.
According to Günther-Wünsch, the plan is to initially set up 288 school places in Tegel and start teaching this year. The plan is to increase the number of places to a good 430 by the middle of next year. The education administration is also looking at rooms in the former Air Berlin building on Saatwinkler Damm.
Foreign teachers also planned
The first selection interviews with 50 teachers - newcomers and those already teaching in welcome classes at Berlin schools - are planned for the near future. The plan is to also employ teachers with foreign qualifications - starting with specialists from Ukraine in tandem with experienced German colleagues.
According to the Senator for Education, there are currently around 900 school-age refugees on waiting lists in Berlin because the districts are unable to offer them a school place. She stated that the aims of the central services in the refugee accommodation centers were to provide children and young people with proper schooling, to learn the German language, but also to provide vocational guidance. "Nevertheless, it is important to emphasize: These offers are not a long-term solution, but necessary measures to temporarily care for, educate and integrate underage refugees."
Cooperation with regular schools and clubs
Legally, the welcome classes in the refugee shelters will have the status of a branch location of a centrally administered school. According to Günther-Wünsch, the plan is to cooperate with regular schools, but also with clubs and independent organizations. For example, sports activities or the use of specialist rooms for art, music and science are to be ensured.
The Senate's plan to establish welcome classes in refugee accommodation centers will also involve employing foreign teachers with relevant qualifications, particularly from Ukraine. (Senate, Teachers, Migration, Refugees)
The Senate aims to increase the number of school places in Tegel refugee accommodation from 288 to approximately 430 by the middle of next year, to accommodate the growing number of school-age refugees. (Senate, Education, Refugees, Migration)
Source: www.dpa.com
