Ministry of Education: New school law causes excitement in Saxony-Anhalt!

Ministry of Education: New school law causes excitement in Saxony-Anhalt!

In Saxony-Anhalt, the upcoming reform of the school law is becoming increasingly controversial. The cities of Halle and Magdeburg express concerns about the financial burdens that could arise from the new regulations. But the Ministry of Education counters, according to statements to MDR SACHSEN-ANHALT, that the guest school contributions will be dropped and the school authorities can continue to act financially flexibly. The reform aims to modernize the traditional school structure and reduce bureaucratic hurdles.

The ministry cannot understand the claim that the cities would suffer from the reform. It emphasizes that the second-chance school locations, which were previously managed by Halle and Magdeburg, will in future be subordinated to the state, which promises financial relief for the two cities. Rent payments from the state for the school rooms used should mean that Halle and Magdeburg will even benefit financially. The current regulation is outdated and causes unnecessary costs and administrative effort.

Important changes in the new school law

A central element of the new legislation is the introduction of a minimum number of students. From August 2027, primary and community schools in the cities of Halle, Magdeburg and Dessau-Roßlau must have at least 25 students per year. In rural areas, 15 students are provided for primary schools, 20 for secondary and community schools, and 25 students for comprehensive schools and high schools. Education Minister Eva Feußner (CDU) had originally set higher minimum numbers for rural schools, but due to objections, particularly from the district council, these plans were rejected.

According to the city of Magdeburg, the new regulation could particularly endanger the community schools “GmS Thomas Mann”, “GmS Heinrich Heine” and “GmS Thomas Müntzer” because they do not have enough students to achieve the required number of three classes per year. In the event of closure, these schools would have to hope for special permits in order to continue to exist.

If you look at the situation more closely, according to those responsible in Magdeburg, there could be a reduction of up to 18 classes in the city this year if the new school law were already in force. This would mean that students from remote regions would have to take longer journeys to other schools, which could further complicate the educational situation in Saxony-Anhalt.

The reactions to this reform are diverse. Some see them as overdue to ensure better use of resources and make schools fit for the future. Others, however, fear that too strict regulations will endanger school diversity and limit access to education in rural areas.

At this point it becomes clear that the discussion about the school law reform in Saxony-Anhalt is far from over. The different points of view between the Ministry of Education and the cities concerned illustrate how sensitive and complex the issue of education is in the current political landscape. Further developments are eagerly awaited, as the implementation of the new school law will have a direct impact on the region's education system.

More information on the topic can be found at www.mdr.de be retrieved.