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Hesse: Student representatives fight for more money and recognition!
In Wiesbaden, financial support for student representatives is being discussed - budget adjustments and legal challenges are the focus.
Hesse: Student representatives fight for more money and recognition!
Things are simmering in Hesse - the student representatives are facing enormous challenges. A current survey by the State Student Representative Council (LSV) clearly shows that financial bottlenecks and a lack of appreciation undermine the important work of student representatives. Like the article by fr.de According to reports, cities and districts only spend an average of eight cents per student per year on these committees. Ted Krämer, deputy state student representative, describes this sum as “far too little”.
The effects are clearly noticeable: With this measly budget, student representatives can hardly finance public events or information materials. The LSV has called for an increase to 20 cents per capita, which in a medium-sized school district meant around 4,000 to 6,000 euros per year. But the reality is completely different: In fact, the average budget is a meager 1,600 to 2,400 euros.
Legal framework and challenges
The LSV draws attention to the legal situation, which is making life difficult for student representatives. In some regions, such as Fulda, Marburg and Rüsselsheim, the student representatives do not receive any financial support from the school authorities. However, according to the Hessian school law, they are obliged to reimburse material and travel costs. However, the student representatives do not have a secure legal status, which creates problems when renting rooms.
The Ministry of Culture is requested to instruct the state education authorities to intensify the exchange with the students. In Frankfurt, the city student council was on the verge of dissolving due to a lack of support. But the city responded and provided a half-time office. The situation looks much better in Wiesbaden - there the city school council receives around 22 cents per year for each of the 44,000 students.
The role of student representatives
Student representatives are more than just a form of participation; they are essential for representing the interests of the students. They are elected by the students and can only be voted out by them. Decisions are made independently, but representatives must give regular accounts, as emphasized on the website of the Hessian Ministry of Culture here.
In the elementary level, the students are gradually introduced to the student representatives, while in the middle and upper levels, class representatives and their deputies are elected. The student council and the various committees - such as the district and city student council - have the mandate to represent the concerns of their fellow students and to actively participate in school life.
The LSV urgently appeals to the school authorities to increase the budgets for the student representatives in order not to further endanger their valuable work. After all, students are the future – and their voice should be heard.