Inclusion or Hartbruch? New specialty school law causes unrest in Mainz-Bingen

Inclusion or Hartbruch? New specialty school law causes unrest in Mainz-Bingen

From the school year 2024/2025, a revolutionary special school regulations come into force in Rhineland-Palatinate! This profound reform promises a realignment of education for disabled children, but raises urgent questions. Experts warn of possible serious consequences for affected students and their families. Almut Schultheiß-Lehn, district deputy, and Yvonne Bless, the district's disability officer, sharply criticize the required adjustments: "How will individual support succeed in the future?"

New challenges for teachers and students

The reform aims to promote inclusion from the first day of school to the end. All school beginners first have to start in their regular primary school, which delays switching to special schools up to the third year. "That is too late," explains Schultheiß-Lehn and fears that access to special schools will be difficult. Parents thus lose their influence on school selection and participation in the educational path of their children.

Another point of criticism is the lack of preparation of the regular schools for these fundamental changes. The fear: Children with special needs could be insufficiently encouraged, which could lead to an additional burden for everyone involved. The gradual abolition of voluntary tenth grade at special schools also brings new concerns: students could be torn from their familiar surroundings by changing school, which endangers their professional development.

Despite these challenges, the state of Rhineland-Palatinate plans to create new resources! Inclusion is to be improved with 250 new positions for support teachers and increased further training for the teachers. The call to support the inclusive lessons is unmistakable! In the district of Mainz-Bingen, six special schools are currently available to play a central role in the implementation of this reform. How will that affect the future school landscape? Time will show it!