The Minister of Education wants adequate educational resources.

– The Minister of Education advocates for adequate educational resources.

This year, the number of teachers in Rhineland-Palatinate reached an unprecedented peak of about 44,000, according to the Minister of Education Stefanie Hubig (SPD) in Mainz, more than 1,660 new teachers were hired. The aim is to fill all teaching posts with qualified professionals by the next school year 2024/25, ensuring good educational coverage.

Currently, more than 548,000 children and teenagers attend general and vocational schools in Rhineland-Palatinate, an increase of more than 10,000 students. Around 41,250 new students will start their school career.

Additional hours of German and foreign languages ​​in primary school

Starting this school year, elementary schools will add an extra hour of German lessons per week for second grade learners. At the same time, foreign language teaching in English and French will be reinforced for third and fourth year students, with two hours a week each.

In addition, a daily reading session of at least ten minutes will be required in primary schools, in addition to daily dictation sessions and mental arithmetic. Regular reading and math tests with mandatory assessments will also be implemented.

Reduced exams: German and mathematics

Instead of ten, only eight German tests will be required each year for third and fourth grade students, and four math tests instead of six.

Expansion of the network of full-time schools

According to Hubig, nearly 1,300 public schools in the state now offer full-time programs, with more than 80 percent of schools in Rhineland-Palatinate offering such options. In total there are 1,644 schools.

A high percentage of schools equipped with basic Wi-Fi

According to the minister, almost 99 percent of schools in Rhineland-Palatinate are equipped with reasonable basic Wi-Fi. In addition, RLP’s education portal, digital shelf and school chat are constantly being developed, and the AI ​​tool ‘fobizz’ has been well received. Interest in AI remains high among schools.

The minister highlighted the importance of digital literacy for students, highlighting their need to learn how to manage social media platforms like TikTok. She also highlighted the importance of adequate funding for the digital 2.0 agreement with the federal government, while highlighting the importance of reading and writing on paper.

Many requests from students, parents and associations

Representatives of students, parents, unions and opposition parties put forward a long list of demands at the start of the new school year. The main demand is for more teachers across the state, as identified by the Education and Training Union (GEW). Other demands include a greater commitment to expand full-time schools, better digital connections, more intensive German classes and the introduction of more everyday life subjects into classes.

The additional hours of German and foreign language lessons will benefit more than 548,000 children and teenagers in Rhineland-Palatinate. In order to meet the demands of different societies, the State tries to fill all teaching positions with qualified professionals, meeting the needs of these young learners.

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