New decisions from the Minister of Education: a ban on phones and language tests in schools
The new Minister of Education and Family in Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government, Karin Brien, announced a series of exciting measures in the education sector, confirming that the political change promised by Merz will also include schools.
In a move to raise children's readiness for school, Breien has decided to impose mandatory language tests on all children aged four across the country. She emphasized that the real beginning of educational problems starts within families and not from kindergartens, adding, "There is no support without diagnosis," pointing out that the state will impose diagnostic tests for all children and provide mandatory support for those who struggle with the German language.
The minister also announced plans to reactivate the "language kindergartens" programs and intensify support for educational institutions in socially difficult areas, especially around schools participating in the "Launch Opportunities" program. She noted that billions of euros will be invested in the coming years to improve infrastructure and the quality of education, with significant funding from special funds.
In another matter, Breen called for a ban on the use of personal mobile phones in elementary schools, based on studies indicating a negative impact of excessive screen use on children's educational performance and mental and social health. She emphasized the need to establish appropriate age rules for phone use in high schools, noting that this is a matter for the states, but she believes that the general direction should be towards strict regulation.
It was confirmed that the federal government will support the states by providing the necessary scientific foundations, and it was added that schools and parents usually welcome clear and unified instructions in this regard.
Briien has sparked controversy with her stance on language use in schools, calling for the unification of rules at the national level. She emphasized that the use of symbols such as the asterisk (*), colon (:), or underscore (_) should not be taught or used in schools, although she acknowledges the importance of linguistically considering gender identity. She indicated that educational institutions must adhere to the rules of the German Spelling Council. However, she also clarified that the federal government does not have the authority to impose uniform rules across all states.
Karen Breien took up her new position at the beginning of May as the Federal Minister for Family and Education, after previously serving as the Minister of Education in the state of Schleswig-Holstein.