Gebauer: Web school exams will soon no longer be central

Created: 2022-02-06 09:28

North Rhine-Westphalia's school minister Yvonne Gebauer (FDP) speaks at a state parliament session.

© Oliver Berg/dpa/archive image

The students of the web individual school from all federal states are allowed to take their final exams again in 2022 centrally in NRW.

NRW School Minister Gebauer wants to go back to the place of residence principle soon - and is striving for a state offer.

Bochum - Even if this year's final exams for students of the web individual school - it is the only internet school in Germany for sick children - have been secured, there will soon be a change of course.

This was announced by North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister of Education, Yvonne Gebauer (FDP).

After some uproar, the Ministry of Education had given the web school, which was not officially recognized, the promise that students from all federal states would be able to take their final exams again centrally in NRW in 2022.

However, the Arnsberg district government responsible for this cannot “organize permanent final exams for the entire federal territory,” Gebauer told the German Press Agency.

"That's why we will have to return to the tried-and-tested place of residence principle, according to which final exams are taken in the respective home state."

In December, the Arnsberg district government informed the web school in Bochum that it could no longer examine students from all federal states due to the high level of personnel and organizational effort.

In the individual school, students who are unable to attend regular school due to mental or physical illness are taught individually online.

Most recently, around 100 students were led by the web school to obtain their secondary school diploma.

Headmistress Sarah Lichtenberger had protested because the young people were all prepared for NRW examination subjects and according to NRW curricula and therefore could not compete in their home states.

Curriculums and examination subjects are very different in the federal states.

Gebauer now emphasized: "Especially children and young people who are challenged by personal fates deserve our support in order to achieve a good and recognized school leaving certificate." They could come to Arnsberg from all over Germany again in 2022 for their final exams.

However, the ministry is striving to make a digital alternative to regular school attendance “in the state education system” in the future – for those who are unable to attend school due to serious health reasons.

This should close an existing gap in education, Gebauer explained.

The basis for a corresponding model is currently being developed.

"The aim of such an offer is to enable the children and young people to return to face-to-face teaching in the future, free of commercial interests, or, where this is not possible, to successfully lead them to qualifications."

more on the subject

No distance learning for individual students in pandemic

Rabe: The demand for face-to-face teaching is also a social issue

Entry rules to Thailand relaxed again

With a view to 2023 and the following years, Lichtenberger had said that she would continue to fight for final exams for all students in NRW.

Many children and young people have gone through a difficult path of suffering and are individually and closely accompanied and cared for in the web school.

According to the headmistress, the monthly fees are often paid by youth welfare offices, and the waiting list is long.

Next Wednesday, the web school will be a topic in the state parliament's school committee.

dpa