Music schools believe that cities have an obligation to provide funding

Wiesbaden (dpa/lhe) – Music schools in Hesse find themselves in serious financial difficulties and want more financial support from the municipalities. The level of funding is well below the national average, said the managing director of the Association of German Music Schools HesseHans-Joachim Rieß, the dpa in Wiesbaden.

The country has already made improvements. The Hessian agreement for music schools intends to increase the state’s share of funding in the total expenditure of music schools to 12.5 percent by 2032. This value is currently around 5.8 percent. “While that’s good, the overall funding is still underground,” complained Rieß.

Cities had to take “dramatic measures”.

Although municipal funding for music schools across Germany is an average of 333 euros per year for each music student, in Hesse this amount is 186 euros, as explained by Rieß. Since this is an average value, he says there are many music schools that receive far less. The municipalities had to take a big step to equip the music schools financially so that they can work properly and pay their teachers appropriately, said Rieß.

Many music schools are fighting for survival

The Hessian State Association of German Music Schools has 67 institutions organized by municipalities or non-profit associations with municipal support. There are also free and private music lesson providers. According to Rieß, the Hessian municipalities with exceptional support for music schools include Darmstadt, Frankfurt, Fulda and Rüsselsheim. In many other places, schools were largely struggling to survive.

What happens after the Herrenberg rule?

The question is still open what the hard impact of Herrenberg’s decision will be on music schools. The decision of the Federal Social Court from 2022 concerns the payment of social security contributions. The specific case concerned a music school teacher in Herrenberg (Baden-Württemberg) who worked on a fee basis. The courts saw a case of fraudulent self-employment. The decision requires all music school providers to hire teachers who are subject to social insurance contributions.

Of the approximately 3,000 teachers in Hessian music schools, 2,000 work on a fee basis, “who can no longer be employed in this form,” explained Rieß. Political discussions are currently taking place at the federal level about how the statements from the judgment will be interpreted in practice. The judge’s ruling has an impact not only on music schools, but also on many other educational institutions such as adult education institutions.