Berlin – Negotiations on the billion-dollar Start Opportunities program for schools have been concluded in Berlin. Politicians have high hopes for this. Experts see many positive points, but also point out what is missing.
What is the starting position?
The two educational researchers Nele McElvany and Ulrich Ludewig from the TU Dortmund point out that family background still has a major influence on educational opportunities in Germany. There are also increasing numbers of students who need special support, for example in German. Educational studies show a decline in skills. A PISA study published in December documented that German students performed worse in 2022 than ever before. In reading as well as in mathematics and natural sciences, these were the lowest values ever measured for Germany as part of Pisa.
What is the Start Chances Program?
The program is jointly launched and financed by the federal and state governments to support around 4,000 general education and vocational schools nationwide that have a high proportion of socioeconomically disadvantaged students. The new program is intended to break the strong connection between social background and educational success. It is intended to help the education system in Germany become better and more efficient. At the same time, it is one of the traffic light government’s most important educational policy projects.
What is the specific goal?
The aim is to improve the students’ skills, especially in reading, writing and mathematics. “By the end of the program term, the number of students who fail to meet the minimum standards in mathematics and German should be halved at the StartChance schools,” it says. Around a million students nationwide are expected to benefit.
When should the program start?
The starting point is the coming school year 2024/2025. However, it could be that due to the planning and preparation time, only around 1,000 schools will initially start and then the number will reach 4,000 schools by the 2026/27 school year.
Who pays for the program?
The federal government provides around one billion euros annually – the states contribute the same amount. Over a period of ten years – until the end of the 2033/24 school year – that is a total of 20 billion euros. Given the tight public purse, this is a feat of strength. The states can count existing programs towards co-financing.
What does the program include in detail?
Part of the money should be put into infrastructure and equipment for schools. In addition, the schools can set their own financial priorities via an “opportunity budget”, for example for additional learning support for selected students in the subjects of mathematics and German. In addition, the development of teams made up of social workers, social educators and other specialists should be promoted.
How are the schools selected?
The states name the schools. According to education researcher Dirk Zorn from the Bertelsmann Foundation, they need to introduce a “social index” for schools in order to be able to select the schools with the greatest need for support. As politicians explained when presenting the program, the proportion of people under 18 with a migrant background, the risk of poverty in a region and the development of the gross domestic product play a special role in the distribution of the money.
What do experts rate positively about the program?
Educational researcher Zorn speaks of a “paradigm change” in the German education system. The money will no longer be distributed according to the watering can principle, but according to actual needs. It is also positive that 2,400 of the 4,000 schools supported will be primary schools. The problems are often particularly big there – but that is also where the greatest impact can be achieved. The two researchers McElvany and Ludewig see it similarly: placing the focus on schools in challenging locations, and especially on primary schools, is a very sensible approach.
What do experts assess critically about the program?
Expert Zorn says: “In my opinion, the program is too small.” The money is not enough given the size of the problems. In addition, schools especially need more positions for teachers. McElvany and Ludewig also point out this: “The program cannot change the shortage of teachers in the short term.”
What do student representatives say about the program?
The Federal Student Conference sees the program as a possible “game changer”, but also considers the financial volume to be too low. Secretary General Florian Fabricius also criticizes the fact that the program expressly cannot support repairs and renovation measures that are necessary anyway – these include, for example, repairing broken toilets or holey ceilings.
And what about the digital pact?
The digital pact, initially worth five billion euros from the federal government – it has been financially increased several times – is a funding program for the technical expansion of schools, for example with WiFi or tablets. It expires in the spring. Some politicians in the federal states had criticized the fact that no successor pact had yet been finalized. Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (FDP) recently said that the federal government stands by Digital Pact 2.0, but that the funds from the first pact must first be used – this has not yet been completely the case. It was announced on Friday that the agreement on a new pact should be reached in mid-May.
Expert Zorn says clearly: “Digitality is part of school today, and that actually requires more than a pact.” What is needed is long-term, sustainable financing. “Efficient digital equipment must be as commonplace today as blackboards and chalk used to be.” There is a lack of a uniform reform strategy for the German education system. “For this we would need an effort from society as a whole. We are still a long way from that at the moment.”
2024-02-02 21:05:45
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