Criticism of the education system: Rector from Waiblingen calls for reforms!

Criticism of the education system: Rector from Waiblingen calls for reforms!

Waiblingen, Deutschland - The outgoing secondary school principal Axel Rybak from Waiblingen has found clear words for the education system in Baden-Württemberg. In a comprehensive analysis, he realizes that the system is “rugged” and that “construction errors” show that teachers rob a lot of energy. He demands a consistent education policy and the same wages for all teachers, since the current situation is anything but fair. Rybak is particularly concerned about the influence of parents on educational decisions, which he considers exaggerated. The Staufer Realschule, where Rybak worked, sees itself somewhat well positioned for the school year 2025/26, but filling the gaps in the education system is already part of everyday life, reports the ZVW

The problems of the education system are not new. Baden-Württemberg has lost the most nationwide in the past ten years and only occupies 16th place in the ten-year comparison. This is an alarming sign, especially in a country that is traditionally known for its strong educational landscape. Compared to the past school year, the country was able to improve from 6th to 5, but the educational monitor remains a sobering image of the current school quality. According to the IQB study in 2021, many fourth graders do not even reach the minimum standards in reading and mathematics. The failures of education are diverse, from the insufficient financial situation to the lack of teachers, which is not adequately addressed politically, so SWR .

school system in upheaval

What about the number of teachers? The Education and Science Union (GEW) calls for more places for teachers, while the Association of Education and Education (VBE) complains that primary school teachers earn less and have to teach more than their colleagues: inside at other types of school. There are already more applicants for the primary school teaching office as available study places. The system also poses new challenges with the rapidly increasing number of children with a migration background, which increased by 20% between 2013 and 2023. Those who do not counteract this in time risks that the children fall even further when reading and in other subjects, above all due to the corona pandemic.

The educational expert Christina Anger still sees progress that could bear fruit in the coming years. Suggestions for improvement are diverse: early language support, more staff, multi -professional teams and systematic recovery are just a few of them. It is also required that kindergarten and primary school have to work together better, which could be supported by a mandatory last year of kindergarten. The situation in Hamburg, where systematic reading is promoted and better results are achieved, is often cited as a positive example.

challenges and opportunities

While the reviews are loud, the INSM education monitor 2024 shows that Baden-Württemberg is still top when it comes to digitization and vocational training. In the area of digitization, the country takes first place with the highest number of patent applications in digitization technologies. Dual training also has the highest success rate. These strengths should be used in order to work across the board in the education system, in particular the expenses for education per child have to be raised, because Baden-Württemberg is below the national average.

Overall, it should be noted: Baden-Württemberg faces major challenges, but also ways to tackle the necessary reforms and make the education system fit for the future. If those responsible act, education can also be “very popular” again.