Parliament in the State endorses permanent merger of reality-focused schools permanently - Lawmakers decide on extending available timeframe for blended primary school program
North Rhine-Westphalia School Parliament Passes Law Allowing Permanent Comprehensive School Combination
Realschulen (middle-tier secondary schools) in North Rhine-Westfalen (NRW) will now have the permanent option to institute a Hauptschule (lower-tier secondary schools) branch from grade 7, as approved by the State Parliament.
In a roll-call vote, 93 out of 153 members of parliament supported the measure, while 60 voted against. The three opposition parties - SPD, FDP, and AfD - had previously announced their intention to reject the amendment.
The integrated Hauptschule curriculum will primarily be implemented when a public Hauptschule (lower-tier secondary school) is not within reach. Minister of Education Dorothee Feller (CDU) stated that the number of Hauptschulen in NRW has remained consistent in the past few decades, with 159 Hauptschulen currently in operation. Hauptschule students have the right to an appropriate educational offering.
Franziska Müller-Rech, the education spokeswoman for the FDP faction, deemed the law a starting point for a unified model. The opposition parties criticized the law, claiming it would overwhelm Realschulen by requiring them to manage two educational paths and two teaching plans concurrently. They also expressed concerns that the change would negatively impact teaching quality due to overcrowded classes and the need for teachers to deliver different learning content within a single lesson.
Initially, a total of 80 additional teaching positions have been earmarked in the budget to accommodate comprehensive schools with a secondary modern track. The FDP deemed this provision insufficient.
In addition, the school law amendment extends the regulations for Islamic religious education until the end of July 2031.
Criticism from school and parent associations regarding the change has been vocal. The Association of Teachers views the plans as an attack on the structured school system, while the Association of Teachers NRW, which includes many teachers working in Haupt- and Realschulen, warns of overburdening teachers who would be required to teach both Haupt- and Realschule students in a single class.
So far, there are only 18 integrated Hauptschule branches across a total of 370 Realschulen statewide, with four offers set to expire. With the new regulation in place, this will now become a permanent provision.
Realschulen that currently offer or plan to offer a Hauptschule curriculum from grade 7 may start as early as grade 5, a decision that some educational associations believe could potentially put an end to Hauptschulen and ultimately challenge the structured school system.
Source: NRW State Parliament
Keywords: North Rhine-Westphalia, School Parliament, Comprehensive School, SPD, FDP, AfD, Dorothee Feller, CDU, Hauptschule, Teacher
Community aid is needed to address the concerns raised by school and parent associations about the possible impact of the new comprehensive school law in North Rhine-Westphalia. Aid for the development of the less favored regions could also help in providing resources for schools in rural areas, ensuring a fair educational offering for all students.
The political ramifications of the school law amendment extend beyond education-and-self-development, impacting policy-and-legislation and general-news. The opposition parties' criticism, as well as the vocal opposition from educational associations, highlights the importance of careful consideration in legislation regarding education systems, taking into account all stakeholders' perspectives.
