Education - "We won't let up": parents' initiative piles on the pressure
Following the state government's announcement that it intends to develop a new model for a nine-year Gymnasium, the initiators of a popular petition are continuing to press for a rapid return to the nine-year Gymnasium in Baden-Württemberg. "We won't let up until an acceptable concept is on the table," said Anja Plesch-Krubner, one of the initiators. They owe it to their supporters. If the state government takes too long to come up with a concept or is not close enough to the demands of the referendum petition, they will increase the pressure again. "Then we will have to initiate the referendum," said Plesch-Krubner.
The initiative wants to force a return to the nine-year Gymnasium in Baden-Württemberg with the help of a referendum petition. The initiators had collected more than 100,000 signatures and submitted them to the state parliament. Parliament is now expected to have to deal with the motion next year. If it rejects the initiative's draft law, the initiators can apply for a referendum. They would then have to collect signatures again, but in this case from a tenth of those eligible to vote, currently around 770,000. If they succeed, a referendum could ultimately decide on the duration of the grammar school.
After a citizens' forum convened by the state government also recommended a return to a modernized G9, the state announced on Tuesday that it was open to a "new G9" and was starting a process to develop such a new G8/G9 model. "We are not going to make any quick fixes or simply return to the G9 of the 1990s. We will work out a solution that meets the requirements of our time and takes up the recommendations of the Citizens' Forum," said Minister President Winfried Kretschmann (Greens).
However, he gave no hope of a quick, nationwide G9: Kretschmann said that he found it very difficult to imagine that the switch to a nine-year Gymnasium would be possible for the coming school year. The parents' initiative takes a completely different view: "We are calling for this to happen as quickly as possible, i.e. for the next school year," said Plesch-Krubner. From the initiative's point of view, the state could initially use the education plans of the G9 model schools until a concept for the modernized G9 was available.
However, Plesch-Krubner emphasized that she and her fellow campaigners were also open to discussions. The initiators of the referendum could also imagine modernizing the Gymnasium. "We are happy to talk about educational concepts. We also think deepening is good," she said. Kretschmann had said on Tuesday that he wanted to seek talks with the initiators.
FDP parliamentary group leader Hans-Ulrich Rülke accused Kretschmann of wanting to play for time on the issue. "We are not at the beginning of the discussion on G9 and we by no means have a knowledge problem," the politician said on Sunday. "What we need now is rapid implementation."
The eight-year Gymnasium is currently the standard in Baden-Württemberg. G9 is now only available as a pilot project at 44 state schools and some private schools. Parents had justified their initiative for a return to G9 by arguing that children were under great pressure to perform and had little free time due to the shortened school time.
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- The push for a rapid return to the nine-year Gymnasium is not limited to Baden-Württemberg, with similar initiatives forming in other German states, such as Stuttgart.
- The State Government of Baden-Württemberg, headed by Minister President Winfried Kretschmann, has acknowledged the demand for a new G9 model and has begun the process of developing such a system, focusing on a modernized G8/G9 model that aligns with the needs of current times.
- Recognizing the importance of education in shaping the future, various stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and local education authorities in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, are actively engaged in discussions with the State Government about the new G8/G9 model, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that prioritizes both academic rigor and personal development.
Source: www.stern.de
