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Entrance to the Düsseldorf Administrative Court
Photo: Michael Gstettenbauer / IMAGO
If a high school student no longer attends school despite compulsory attendance because he is afraid of a corona infection, the mother can be threatened with a fine.
The district government can also issue a so-called school attendance request against the mother: She must therefore ensure that her underage son goes to school.
That was decided on Friday by the administrative court in Düsseldorf.
(File number 18 L 621/22)
The 15-year-old has not attended classes at his school since November 2021 for fear of infecting himself and his mother with the corona virus.
However, according to the court, neither he nor his mother belong to a risk group.
Both are of the opinion that going to school is associated with unacceptable health risks.
Several applications for exemption from the obligation to be present before the administrative court and the higher administrative court were unsuccessful.
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Since the 15-year-old still did not go to school, the Düsseldorf district government asked the mother to ensure that her son attended school.
If that didn't happen, she was threatened with a fine of 2,500 euros.
The judges ruled that the threat was justified.
A risk of infection with the corona virus is no reason not to send your son to school regularly.
The risk can be reduced to an acceptable level with the available resources.
The risk can be further reduced by voluntarily wearing a mask in school.
The state protective measures adopted were sufficient.
The state is also already in the process of making arrangements for the fall and winter.
him/AFP