- The Educational Minister advocates for adequate educational resources.
This year, the number of instructors in Rhineland-Palatinate has hit an unprecedented peak of around 44,000. As reported by Education Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) in Mainz, over 1,660 new educators have been recruited. The intention is to fill all teaching positions with qualified professionals during the upcoming academic year 2024/25, ensuring excellent teaching coverage.
Now, over 548,000 children and adolescents attend general and vocational schools in Rhineland-Palatinate, marking an increase of over 10,000 students. Approximately 41,250 new students will commence their educational journey.
Additional Hours of German and Foreign Languages in Primary School
From this academic year, primary schools will add an extra hour of German lessons per week for second graders. Simultaneously, foreign language instruction in English and French will be intensified for third and fourth graders, with two hours a week each.
Additionally, a minimum of ten minutes of daily reading will be mandatory in primary schools, complementing existing daily spellings and mental arithmetic sessions. Regular reading and math proficiency tests with mandatory evaluations will also be implemented.
Decrease in Tests: German and Math
Instead of ten, only eight German tests will be required annually for grades three and four, and four tests for math instead of six.
Expansion of Full-Day School Network
As announced by Hubig, almost 1,300 general schools in the state now offer full-day programs, with over 80% of all schools in Rhineland-Palatinate offering such options. In total, there are 1,644 schools.
High Percentage of Schools with Basic WLAN Equipment
According to the Minister, nearly 99% of schools in Rhineland-Palatinate boast decent basic WLAN equipment. Furthermore, the RLP education portal, digital bookshelf, and school chat will be continually developed, and the AI tool 'fobizz' has been well-received. The interest in AI among schools remains high.
The Minister underlined the importance of digital literacy for students, emphasizing their need to learn how to manage social media platforms like TikTok. She also emphasized the importance of adequate funding for Digital Pact 2.0 by the federal government, while highlighting the continued significance of reading and writing on paper.
Numerous Requests from Students, Parents, and Associations
Representatives from students, parents, trade unions, and opposition parties presented a long list of demands at the beginning of the new academic year. The primary demand is for more educators across the state, as emphasized by the Education and Training Union (GEW). Other requests include increased engagement in expanding full-day schools, improved digital connectivity, more intensive German lessons, and incorporation of more everyday topics in classrooms.
The additional hours of German and foreign language instruction will benefit over 548,000 children and adolescents in Rhineland-Palatinate. To address the requests from various associations, the state aims to fill all teaching positions with qualified professionals, catering to the needs of these young learners.
