Parliament of the State Endorses Permanent Merger for Real Core Schools Union - Legislative body supports extended option for coexistence of fundamental and primary schools
North Rhine-Westphalia State Parliament Approves Permanent Option for Real-Comprehensive School Combination
Nordrhein-Westfalen's Realschulen will be allowed to establish Hauptschule branches from grade 7 permanently, following the approval of a school law amendment by the State Parliament. In a roll-call vote, 93 out of 153 participating members voted in favor, with 60 casting dissenting votes.
The three opposition parties of SPD, FDP, and AfD had announced earlier they would reject the bill. The integrated Hauptschule program will primarily be implemented when a public Hauptschule is not easily accessible. According to School Minister Dorothee Feller (CDU), the number of Hauptschulen in NRW has remained stable over the past decade, with the current 159 schools.
The opposition parties criticized the law heavily. The education spokeswoman of the FDP fraction, Franziska Müller-Rech, stated the reform "threatens to overwhelm Realschulen, which would have to manage two educational paths, two teaching plans, and two examination regulations under one roof." The SPD expressed concerns that the change may weaken students in the Hauptschule branch, creating pressure for students in joint learning environments.
The controversial school law amendment was initially supposed to pass on Wednesday just before midnight, but the FDP requested a third reading, calling for more transparency in the legislative process. Many school and parent associations spoke out against the change, with the Association of Philologists viewing the plans as an "attack on the ability-based, structured school system."
The amendment also extends the regulations for Islamic religious education until 2031, allowing it to continue in cooperation with Islamic organizations. The FDP criticized the move, demanding compulsory ethics lessons for all students who do not participate in denominational religious education.
While specific views from opposition parties on this reform in North Rhine-Westphalia were not provided, it is worth noting that the SPD often supports comprehensive schools for promoting social equity, the FDP generally advocates for flexible and diverse educational options, and the AfD emphasizes traditional educational structures. For more precise views, consult statements directly related to this specific reform from these parties.
EC countries may discuss the implications of North Rhine-Westphalia's school law amendment on employment policy, especially in the education-and-self-development sector. This could lead to debates in politics, as the reform could potentially affect the general-news landscape, including discussions about social equity, flexible educational options, and traditional educational structures.
