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Over 88,000 sign petition against cuts to school support services in Hamburg
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More than 88,000 people have signed an online petition titled 'No Cuts to School Support in Hamburg' on Change.org, protesting the reorganization of school support services by Hamburg's school authority. The signatures are scheduled to be handed over to Senator for Schools Ksenija Bekeris (SPD) on Tuesday, followed by a professional exchange. The reorganization, partly driven by cost reasons, plans to deploy fewer specialized educational staff and more Voluntary Social Year (FSJ) participants, replace individual case assistance with pool solutions, and apply stricter approval criteria. School support assists children with physical, intellectual, emotional, or social impairments in mainstream schools. The number of approved cases rose from about 460 in 2011/12 to around 4,000 last school year, with costs increasing from 6.75 million euros in 2014 to 42.15 million euros last year, and 44 million euros budgeted for 2027. Bekeris maintains that school support is a statutory benefit, but dissatisfaction over approved hours led to 540 complaints. Special schools have also raised alarms about monitoring compulsory schooling requirements.
Source report
Hamburg's Senator for Schools Ksenija Bekeris (SPD, M) faces criticism over changes to school support. Source: Christian Charisius/dpa
Resistance to the realignment of school support in Hamburg continues to grow. More than 88,000 people have signed a petition opposing the changes, and the signatures are set to be handed over to Senator for Schools Ksenija Bekeris (SPD).
Petition Handover Planned
Protest against changes to school support for children included in mainstream education persists. According to the GEW union, the online petition "No Cuts to School Support in Hamburg" on Change.org has gathered over 88,000 signatures. The petition is scheduled to be delivered to Senator Bekeris this Tuesday. Following the meeting at the school authority, a professional exchange with Bekeris and representatives of the petition is planned for late afternoon.
Trigger for the Dispute
The reorganization of school support, decided by the school authority partly due to cost reasons, has sparked the controversy. Key changes include:
- Fewer specialized educational staff and more participants in the Voluntary Social Year (FSJ) to be deployed
- Pool solutions to partially replace individual case assistance
- Stricter application of approval criteria
Rising Costs and Caseload
According to authorities:
- School support was approved in approximately 460 cases during the 2011/12 school year
- That number rose to around 4,000 last school year
- Costs climbed from 6.75 million euros in 2014 to 42.15 million euros last year
- For 2027, 44 million euros are budgeted
What School Support Provides
School support assists children and young people with physical, intellectual, emotional, or social impairments in participating in regular school life. Depending on individual needs, it helps with:
- Orientation within the school building
- Organizing assignments
- Communicating with teachers and classmates
- Managing difficult situations during lessons
Bekeris: School Support Is a Statutory Benefit
Senator Bekeris has repeatedly stated that school support is a statutory benefit. If there is a verified need, the child is entitled to it. Nevertheless, significant dissatisfaction arose during the summer holidays regarding the actual number of hours approved. Questions and complaints were received by the school authority in a total of 540 cases. Recently, special schools also raised alarms, stating that they could no longer monitor compulsory schooling requirements under the given conditions.
lno/juve
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