BSW on education

The BSW wants to end the ban on federal-state cooperation in education and introduce a nationwide education framework law. All-day schools and after-school care would be expanded, and children would learn together for longer. Educational opportunity should not depend on family background.

The BSW wants the federal government and states to work together on schools. A law should create the same rules for all states. There should be more all-day schools. Children should learn together for longer.

The framework law is meant to secure comparable conditions, legal entitlements and high quality standards in all states. The platform considers different school types sensible but sees early tracking after grade 4 as a cause of social selection; the school system should allow switching between tracks. More all-day, after-school and homework supervision is meant to make children less dependent on their parents' help. Elementary school should focus on reading, writing and arithmetic, and "writing by ear" should disappear. Grades should be the general yardstick for performance.

The BSW wants to keep phones and tablets out of class at least through elementary school. A social media law modeled on Australia's is meant to protect children. The federal government would pay for every child's first year in a sports club.

The BSW wants no phones and tablets in elementary school. A law should protect children from social media. Australia has such a law. The federal government should pay for the first year in a sports club.

After elementary school, too, digital devices should be used in class as little as possible. The platform cites studies saying analog learning materials work better for learning to read and write. The BSW considers social media algorithms harmful to health and says children need more exercise and friendships outside school. The sports club subsidy is up to 150 euros a year and is also meant to support the clubs.

The BSW wants to guarantee every young person a vocational training place and to raise the standing of vocational education. A vocational training pact is meant to modernize vocational schools.

The BSW wants every young person to get a training place. Vocational schools should become more modern. Schools should prepare students better for work. Skilled trades should get more respect.

The platform calls for a guaranteed right to a training place. A vocational training pact is to modernize vocational schools and equip them better. Career preparation in lower secondary school is to be strengthened, and intermediate school diplomas and apprenticeship occupations are to gain standing. A nationwide internship plan is meant to link companies and schools more closely. The BSW counts the traditional master-craftsman trades among the country's strengths.

The BSW rejects appearances by the Bundeswehr (German armed forces) in schools and wants more peace education, civic education and democracy education instead. Universities and research institutions are to adopt civil clauses.

The BSW wants no army advertising in schools. Students should learn more about peace and democracy. Companies should not advertise in schools either. Universities should do research only for civilian purposes.

According to the platform, the Bundeswehr, corporate lobbying and commerce have no place in schools. All states are to offer more civic education, peace education formats and democracy education. For all universities and scientific institutions the BSW calls for civil clauses, meaning commitments to conduct research only for civilian purposes.

The BSW wants support teams to take non-teaching tasks off teachers' hands. In addition, more teachers and childcare workers are to be trained, and teacher training is to become more practical.

Teachers should be able to focus on teaching. Other experts should take over some tasks. For example social workers and IT staff. There should also be more teachers and childcare workers.

Teams of social workers, school psychologists and IT managers are to support day-to-day school life. The federal government is to help states and municipalities train more teachers and childcare workers. Teacher training is to include more practice, for example in a dual format with bachelor's, master's and a teaching traineeship. In the short term the BSW relies on attractive conditions for career changers. Daycare centers and schools are to be safe spaces free of bullying, discrimination and racism.

The BSW wants the federal government to share in the basic funding and construction of universities. It also calls for a BAföG (student aid) reform, an end to chains of fixed-term contracts and protection of academic freedom.

The federal government should give universities more money. Students should get enough BAföG. BAföG is state money for studying. University staff should get permanent jobs. They should be able to speak their minds freely.

What the platform calls the chronic underfunding of universities is to end. A BAföG reform is to fund studies adequately, and a social pact for universities is to secure social infrastructure. For permanent tasks the BSW demands permanent positions instead of successive temporary contracts. Professors and staff are to be able to voice criticism without fearing disciplinary proceedings or job loss. Adult education centers are also to receive more money.

The BSW wants an investment program to renovate and expand local facilities for children, young people and families. It justifies this with a long-standing backlog in repairs and investment.

The BSW wants to spend a lot of money on children and education. The money should go to cities and towns. Many buildings for children there are old or broken. Poor areas should get money first.

The program is to be called "Kinder und Bildung" (Children and Education). Services such as youth recreation centers, libraries, sports facilities and music schools should be close to home and easy to access. The money is meant for municipal education and childcare facilities. Places where poor families live are to get priority.