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Consequences of the flood: This kindergarten in Kordel, Rhineland-Palatinate, was also hit by the floods
Photo: Harald Tittel / dpa
The flood disaster in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate has had a significant impact on the education system in the regions affected. A spokeswoman for the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Education said that in the Ahrweiler district alone, in addition to eight “very badly” damaged daycare centers, 17 schools were so badly damaged or destroyed that “normal classes cannot take place there immediately after the summer vacation”. According to SPIEGEL information, the damage in North Rhine-Westphalia, particularly south-west of Cologne, is also significant: the Rhineland youth welfare office has so far recorded at least 136 daycare centers whose operation is impaired. In addition, there are a further 34 daycare centers in the area of the State Youth Welfare Office Westphalia, especially in the greater Hagen area.
The individual damage to the facilities is currently still being determined.
The NRW school ministry also assumes that at least 135 schools are affected.
16 of them are considered so destroyed that they cannot be used at first.
Experts expect that the numbers will increase, especially in the daycare area, because numerous damages have not yet been recorded.
The authorities have announced "flexible and unbureaucratic solutions" for the children and young people affected.
This can be the temporary relocation of entire daycare and school locations to other parts of the city and buildings, but also the division of children into new care and learning groups.
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