Teachers in need: School reforms are pushing the hunger for education to the limit!

Teachers in need: School reforms are pushing the hunger for education to the limit!

In a worrying situation, education experts and school representatives gathered at the Gosheim-Wehingen secondary school. The state parliament member Niko Reith from the FDP invited people to this “round table” to discuss the pressing challenges in the school system. The reason for this is the upcoming reforms and the state elections on March 8, 2026. Among those present at the meeting were Rector Christiane Glaser and Deputy Rector Oreste Föhr from the Gosheim-Wehingen secondary school as well as Patricia Staron and Heiko Keller from other educational institutions.

A central topic was the school reform, which will come into force in Baden-Württemberg from the 2024/25 school year. This is accompanied, among other things, by the reintroduction of the mandatory primary school recommendation for high schools and the deletion of the intermediate secondary school certificate. From the coming school year 2025/26 there will also be a return to the nine-year high school (G9). In this context, Patricia Staron said that the changes are already putting a significant strain on everyday school life, which was shared by those present. A clear structure and thoughtful implementation of new ideas are increasingly required.

Overwhelming schools

But it's not just structural changes that are causing headaches for schools. Deputy Director Heiko Keller highlighted the implementation of these reforms and criticized the fact that many new regulations have not yet been clearly defined. The new compulsory subject “Information and Media Education” in particular raises questions. The high administrative burden that is placed on school secretaries is also met with dissatisfaction, as appropriate remuneration is often not provided.

Another pressing problem is inclusive education. There is a lot of uncertainty when it comes to dealing with difficult children and many schools feel left alone in this regard. Despite the right to non-discriminatory and equitable education for all students, the status quo still shows considerable potential for improvement since the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, according to the Bertelsmann Foundation.

Visible consequences of truancy

The aftereffects of the corona pandemic can also be seen in the increasing numbers of truants. Teachers are increasingly taking on additional roles, such as psychologists or social workers, which increases the burden even further. The Ministry of Culture's guidelines for combating truancy are perceived by educators as inadequate, which highlights the urgent need for action.

“We are reaching our limits here!”– This is how a teacher summed up the feeling of many colleagues. The need to gain greater appreciation for educational work is omnipresent. A study shows that motivated teachers are the most important factor for students' learning success. This goes hand in hand with the findings that individual support and smaller classes can make a decisive contribution to learning success. This raises the question of how schools should be designed in the future.

The demands on the education system are increasing, and the needs of children are becoming more and more diverse. The discussion surrounding school reforms shows clear tendencies: Education is an important good that is central to both individual well-being and our society. When it comes to the future of our schools, no one should be left behind.

The results of the current discussions will show to what extent education policy in Baden-Württemberg can respond to the challenges. We can only hope that these important issues will be taken into account in the upcoming state elections.