CDU on education

The CDU wants young people to leave school with a qualification that prepares them for vocational training. To get there, fewer lessons should be canceled, hands-on learning should be established in all types of schools, and career guidance should be expanded.

The CDU wants all young people to finish school with a diploma. With it, they should be ready for job training. Schools should offer more hands-on learning. Students should also learn everyday skills, like handling money. They should get to know different jobs better.

The platform sees the high share of school dropouts as a problem for the economy and society and wants to tackle canceled lessons and the teacher shortage. Besides basic skills, students are to learn everyday abilities such as personal finance, home economics, insurance, and job applications. Projects that bring companies and schools together, such as youth enterprise workshops or practice coordinators, are to be expanded. A "day in practice" is to be introduced statewide, and it should become easier for practitioners to teach classes. The CDU also wants schools to convey a positive image of entrepreneurship and the skilled trades.

The CDU wants to keep vocational schools across the whole state so that young people can train near where they live and do not move away. To this end, the schools are to be digitized and cross-regional school networks set up.

The CDU wants to keep vocational schools everywhere in the state. Young people should be able to train close to home. That way they should stay in Thuringia. The schools should get more digital technology. There should also be a digital vocational school.

The platform describes dual and school-based vocational training as the foundation of the state's economic strength. Vocational schools are to be digitized, and cross-regional school networks are to be created for individual training programs. In the early phase of training, classes spanning several occupations should be possible. Digital teaching offers are to be made available to everyone under the umbrella of a "digital vocational school."

The CDU wants to treat vocational training and university study as equal in value. Trainees are to receive the same offers as students, such as a youth transit ticket and dormitory places, and moving between vocational and academic paths should become easier.

The CDU says job training is worth as much as a university degree. Trainees should get the same offers as students. These include a cheap transit ticket and places in dorms. High schools should also promote job training.

According to the platform, not everyone with an Abitur (university entrance diploma) has to go to university, so dual vocational training should also be presented as a career path at Gymnasium schools. The Regelschule (Thuringia's standard secondary school) is to remain the core of the school system on the way to vocational training, and university dropouts are to be actively offered dual training. The Bachelor Professional and Master Professional qualifications are to become better known. Dual vocational qualifications are to be credited toward later university studies. For trainees, the platform plans a youth ticket and "young housing" with dormitory places at vocational training centers.

The CDU wants to turn Thuringia into a "land of master craftsmen" and make master craftsman training free. The existing Meisterbonus (a bonus for completed master qualifications) is also to be extended to other advanced vocational qualifications such as technician.

The CDU wants training to become a master craftsman to cost nothing. Today there is already a bonus for new masters. Others should get this bonus too, for example technicians. This should make moving up in a job more attractive.

The platform notes that the Meisterbonus was first introduced for master craftsmen in the skilled trades and later extended to all master qualifications, such as specialist and industrial masters and masters in agricultural occupations. Now the master training itself is to become free. Other advanced vocational qualifications, such as technician, are also to receive the bonus. Alongside this, the CDU wants to use targeted advertising to raise appreciation for the skilled trades, entrepreneurial spirit, and business ownership.

The CDU wants to improve staffing in kindergartens: one educator is to be responsible for six children aged one to three and for twelve older children. To meet staffing needs, more training places are to be created and the profession made more attractive.

Kindergartens should have more staff. One educator should care for six small children. For older children, it should be twelve children. Training should be shorter. Educators should have less paperwork.

The one-to-twelve ratio is to apply to children from age three until they start school. Vocational colleges and institutions for educational professions are to offer enough training places, and training is to be shortened. The CDU wants to strengthen part-time bachelor's programs for directors and assistant staff. Flexible conditions, individual working-time accounts, and less bureaucracy are meant to improve working conditions.

The CDU wants to keep the school system with several types of schools and give all of them, including independent schools, equal opportunities to develop. Instead of debates about structure, transitions between school types are to be made easier and schools given more autonomy.

There should still be different types of schools. All types should get equally good chances. Small elementary schools in rural areas should stay. Switching between school types should get easier. Schools should decide more for themselves.

Small rural elementary schools are to be kept, and cooperation across county lines made possible. Regelschulen (non-academic secondary schools) are to get multi-professional teams, at least one school social worker, and equal teacher allocation; the Gymnasium is to be strengthened as a place of academic education. Independent schools are no longer to be disadvantaged on pay settlements and school costs, and a simple certification replaces the current proof-of-use audit. Principals are to get more say over staffing, and schools their own budgets. Responsibility for education is to be combined in one ministry.

The CDU wants to keep special-needs schools across the state and end what it sees as their gradual phase-out. Parents alone are to decide whether their child attends a special-needs school or inclusive classes at a mainstream school.

Special-needs schools are for children who need extra support. The CDU wants to keep these schools everywhere. Parents should choose for themselves. Their child can go to a special-needs school or a regular school. Both should get enough staff and materials.

The platform puts the child's well-being and parents' right to choose a school first. Both special-needs schools and joint classes are to receive the necessary staff and material resources. Separate learning groups are to be developed for children with particular social-emotional support needs. The CDU describes its approach as inclusion with a sense of proportion.

The CDU wants to abolish fees for after-school care (Hort) at schools and give every child starting school 250 euros for school supplies. This is meant to relieve families and make all-day programs accessible to all children.

After-school care at schools should be free. Then all children can be cared for in the afternoon. Every child gets 250 euros when starting school. The money is for school supplies. The CDU wants to ease the burden on families.

In the CDU's view, dropping after-school care fees will make education fairer and reduce administrative work for municipalities. The 250-euro school starter package is intended for all children starting school and is for buying school materials. The platform justifies both measures as relief for families.

The CDU wants to invest in schools' digital equipment through a special funding program. From fifth grade on, every student is to have a digital device, either their own or a loaned one.

Schools should get modern technology. The CDU plans a special funding program for this. From grade 5, every student should have a device. Those without one get a loaned device. Classroom teaching and handwriting stay important.

Digital teaching is meant to complement in-person classes and handwriting, not replace them. So-called digital janitors are to support schools with maintenance and administration of the technology. Together with the state data protection commissioner, the CDU wants to work out practical solutions for digital applications and platforms so that, in its view, data protection does not hold back learning.

The CDU wants to introduce mandatory language tests at school enrollment and initially teach children with insufficient German in separate support classes. The platform treats good German skills as a prerequisite for education and integration.

Before school, every child should take a language test. The test is required. Children who know too little German first go to a German support class. There they learn better German. The CDU says German is important for school and integration.

Every child, regardless of age, is to receive support that matches their language level. Special German support classes are planned for students who need help. The language tests are meant to establish language level bindingly before a child starts school. If shortcomings are found, the child begins school in the support class.

The CDU wants to reintroduce school grades from second grade, conduct grades for behavior and work habits, and promotion decisions at every grade level. In elementary school, the focus is to be on reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Children should get grades again from grade 2. There should also be grades for behavior and effort. At the end of each school year, it is decided whether a child moves up. Elementary school should teach more German and math.

Conduct grades for behavior, diligence, participation, and orderliness are to appear on report cards again. According to the CDU, the promotion decision motivates, gives early warning, and prevents learning gaps from being carried along for years. Elementary school gets one extra lesson each in math and German, plus learning cursive handwriting. The party promises that every child will be able to read, write, and do arithmetic properly by the end of elementary school and wants to end pedagogical experiments.

The CDU wants to keep the Besondere Leistungsfeststellung (BLF), a special exam in 10th grade at Gymnasium schools. At the same time, its design and effectiveness are to be reviewed. The guiding rule is that no school certificate should be awarded without an exam.

Students at Gymnasium schools take a special exam in 10th grade. The CDU wants to keep this exam. But it wants to check whether the exam works well. It says: no certificate without an exam.

According to the platform, the BLF gives students confidence on the way to the Abitur and prepares them for later exams. The CDU therefore does not want to abolish it. Its format and its effect are to be examined and modernized. The platform states the principle that no certificate should be awarded without an exam.

The CDU wants to promote interest in math, computer science, natural sciences and technology and allow more practical phases in all types of schools. A statewide "Tag in der Praxis" (day of practical experience) is meant to improve career orientation. Media and digital skills are also to be taught more.

The CDU wants to strengthen subjects like math, computer science and technology. Students should learn more by doing. There should be a practice day everywhere in the state. On that day, students get to know jobs. Students should also learn how to use media well.

The platform justifies the STEM push with digitalization and technical progress. Communication, teamwork, creativity and critical thinking are to be promoted as well. The practice day is meant to ease the start of working life and help companies find skilled workers. The CDU wants to expand media and digital skills, possibly together with the Thuringian state media authority.

The CDU wants to secure denominational religious education as a required elective. Schools are also to teach democracy and values more strongly. An overall concept for the culture of remembrance is meant to promote engagement with history.

The CDU wants to keep religion classes in schools. Schools should also teach values and democracy. Students should learn more about history. There will be a plan for that. The CDU wants to support visits to historic places.

According to the platform, schools should do more than pass on knowledge and should also give orientation and teach social virtues. The CDU counts the aims of the Basic Law and the state constitution as part of teaching values. It speaks out against racism and antisemitism. Trips to historical learning sites are to be supported.

The CDU wants to end class cancellations by staffing every school with 105 percent of the teachers it needs. Teachers are to be relieved of red tape. Additional professionals are to work at schools in multi-professional teams.

The CDU wants no more canceled classes. Every school should get a few more teachers than it needs on paper. Teachers should have less paperwork. Other trained staff should help at schools.

The 105 percent staffing level is meant to apply to each individual school. Teachers should be able to focus on teaching and students, so the CDU wants to cut administrative tasks. The multi-professional teams include teaching assistants and school administration assistants. Cooperation between different professions is meant to improve the quality of education and care.

The CDU wants to refill every teaching position that becomes vacant and simplify hiring. A system of career advancement, bonuses and promotions is meant to reward performance. Trainee teachers are to get an early job guarantee, and career changers are to be better prepared.

The CDU wants to fill all open teacher jobs again. Schools should be able to hire teachers faster. Good work should pay off for teachers. Young teachers should get a firm job offer early. People from other jobs should become teachers more easily.

Schools are to know three years ahead which positions they may refill and be able to hire trainee teachers directly. The CDU wants to develop the bonuses for shortage subjects and rural areas further. Career rules are to become more flexible so that Gymnasium teachers can work at Regelschulen and vice versa. Teachers of practical subjects are to be paid appropriately. For career changers, a simpler application process and a preparation phase of at least three months are planned.

The CDU wants to abolish admission limits for teacher training degrees and reduce the number of dropouts. Universities of applied sciences are to take part in teacher training in the future. Training is to remain separated by type of school.

The CDU wants to change how teachers are trained. Everyone should be able to study teaching without entry limits. Fewer students should drop out. Universities of applied sciences should also train teachers. Teachers should still train for one type of school.

For student teachers in STEM subjects, the CDU plans a dedicated program with subject content tailored to them. Universities of applied sciences are to train vocational school teachers and teachers of craft subjects for Regelschulen. Handling digital media and artificial intelligence is to be a fixed part of teacher education. The CDU wants to increase capacity for related continuing training.

The CDU wants to change the higher education act to secure autonomy and academic freedom. The civil clause, which commits research to civilian purposes, is to be dropped again. Rules on co-determination are to be based solely on the university's tasks and academic freedom.

The CDU wants to change the law for universities. Universities should decide for themselves. The civil clause should go. This rule says research should serve only civilian purposes. Researchers should work freely and without fear.

According to the platform, researchers and students should be able to pursue their questions without fearing moral discrediting, exclusion or career disadvantages. Only the constitution and the laws are to set limits. Co-determination at universities is to be realigned. The CDU wants to delete the civil clause.

The CDU wants to continue the current funding system for universities, with a fixed annual increase and a strategy and innovation budget, in framework agreement VI. Major cost changes are to be taken into account more easily. At the same time, universities are to tap additional sources of income.

Universities get money from the state. The money rises by a fixed share each year. The CDU wants to keep it that way. If costs rise sharply, more money should come more easily. Universities should also raise more money themselves.

Wage settlements or sharply rising energy costs are to be reflected in allocations even while the agreement is running. Applications and reports for the strategy and innovation budget are to become less bureaucratic. Cooperation between university locations is to receive special weight in the agreement. As further funding sources, the platform names third-party funds, continuing education programs, and shared services and infrastructure.

The CDU wants at least half of the non-professorial academic staff positions at universities to be permanent. For professors, hurdles in appointment procedures are to fall and pay is to become competitive compared with other states.

Many staff at universities only have temporary contracts. The CDU wants to change that. At least half should have permanent jobs. Professors should be paid better. Hiring them should become easier.

More permanent posts are planned above all for staff who teach regularly. The platform sees special Thuringian rules on professors' pay (W-Besoldung), for example on performance bonuses and their pension eligibility, as a disadvantage and wants to remove them. The administrative effort for professors' pay is to drop sharply. The CDU also wants to make work and family easier to combine at universities, for example through child care, flexible working hours and remote work.

The CDU wants to attract more students with a "Campus Thüringen," more marketing and practice-oriented degree formats. Universities of applied sciences are to get their own right to award doctorates. BAföG student aid applications and the Thoska student card are to go digital, and exchange with Europe is to grow.

Fewer people are studying in Thuringia. The CDU wants to change that. Universities should work together more closely. Universities of applied sciences should be allowed to award doctorates. Student aid forms should be fully digital. More young people should be able to go abroad.

In the "Campus Thüringen," universities are to cooperate on degree programs and digital matters and recognize each other's courses. The right to award doctorates for universities of applied sciences is meant to remove a disadvantage compared with other states. Degree programs with in-depth practical phases are to spread, and transfer to business is to be eased through incentives for researchers. Scholarships are to raise participation in the ERASMUS program, and international graduates are to stay through language and advising services. The CDU also wants to locate research-related institutes in rural areas.