European Trade Union Committee for Education Pays a Visit to Böckerhof Primary School

In a significant visit on September 5th, the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) paid a visit to Grundschule am Bockerhof in Solingen, Germany. The event, organised by Daniel Weber, deputy chairman of the Verband Bildung und Erziehung (VBE) Solingen and a Grundschullehrer at the school, was part of a series of school visits aimed at observing the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and identifying areas of action.

The visit included attending a lesson, a tour of the school, and a discussion round with representatives of various education sectors. During the discussion, all participants agreed that school frameworks need to be adjusted urgently.

One of the key issues discussed was the current teacher shortage, which leads to too few special educators for too many classes at many schools, making continuous support difficult. The principal of the Grundschule Bockerhof, Frau Schrader, mentioned personnel problems in the area of special pedagogical support, stating that job advertisements for the positions are no longer receiving applications.

The burdens of bureaucracy, large classes, and lack of support are increasing for teachers, according to Daniel Weber. A possible solution suggested was to employ ergotherapists and logopedists directly at schools and expand multidisciplinary teams.

Societal changes, such as the increasing number of working parents, pose an additional challenge, according to Weber. The importance of continuity in special pedagogical support was emphasized in the discussion round.

ETUCE highlighted that there are few studies on the German school system at the European level, making the exchange with German teachers and school leaders of great interest. The visit was part of a project funded by the EU investigating the implementation of inclusion in various European countries.

The discussion round extensively discussed the challenges and opportunities of inclusion in Germany. Society-wide changes have led to a decrease in the prestige of the teaching profession across Europe, according to Weber.

ETUCE represents 144 education unions across Europe, including the VBE in Germany. The focus of the visit was on examining the state of inclusion in German schools and the working conditions of teachers.

Parents often have to organise out-of-school support measures like ergotherapy and logopedics outside of school hours, which is a significant burden for many families. The visit of ETUCE to Grundschule am Bockerhof is a step towards addressing these issues and working towards a more inclusive and supportive educational environment for all.

European Trade Union Committee for Education Pays a Visit to Böckerhof Primary School