Only 4 days of school: First federal state starts model project
Created: 07/08/2022, 05:00 p.m
By: Alexander Gottschalk
Saxony-Anhalt is testing a "4-plus-1 model" at selected schools.
Teachers' unions speak of a "declaration of bankruptcy" and an "austerity model".
Magdeburg – Does it make sense if children and young people no longer come to school to learn every day?
A pilot project in Saxony-Anhalt is now intended to answer this question.
The federal state wants to introduce a four-day week at a dozen schools as a test, which will be supplemented by a day for distance learning or internships in companies.
The “4-plus-1 model” is to start after the summer holidays, i.e. in the 2022/23 school year.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Education in Magdeburg said on Friday (July 1) that the basis was a decision by the state parliament to test new models for organizing lessons in schools.
The schools would have responded to a corresponding call for tenders.
In Saxony-Anhalt, in particular, there is a shortage of teachers at secondary schools, and lessons are often inevitable.
However, the ministry does not see the model as an instrument against a shortage of teachers.
Four-day week with distance day at schools: model project in Saxony-Anhalt triggers criticism
Twelve secondary and community schools were selected for the pilot project.
The pupils should learn on four days of face-to-face classes in the schools.
According to the ministry spokesman, the fifth day should be dealt with relatively creatively.
Digital learning via apps or the Moodle portal is just as possible as visits to companies and practical learning days.
The model project should run for a school year and then be evaluated, it said.
A student is sitting in his room doing homework.
© Jonas Güttler/dpa/symbol image
The teachers' unions are up in arms against the push from Magdeburg.
The Education and Training Association (VBE) said on Friday (July 1) that the model represented “a declaration of bankruptcy by the state of Saxony-Anhalt in the education sector”.
The state chairman Torsten Wahl criticized: "Here life and learning time is clearly wasted at the expense of the pupils.
Such a day must be planned, prepared, carried out and followed up very well in the teaching work.
However, a distance learning day means an enormous additional burden for the teachers.”
"4-plus-1 model" at schools in Saxony-Anhalt: "Permanent loss of standards" feared
The German Teachers' Association made a similar statement.
Association President Heinz-Peter Meidinger said: "We not only have the suspicion that a savings model is to be introduced step by step, but that the lesson cancellation statistics are also to be massively embellished." According to Meidinger, upper school students are at least able to work independently in distance teaching trustworthy at times.
Younger children need face-to-face classes.
More tutoring because of homeschooling
In the northern Hessian Werra-Meißner district, distance learning or so-called home schooling has led to learning deficits for many students.
The need for tutoring has increased significantly.
The President of the Teachers' Association is particularly critical of the fact that the fifth day should be flexible.
"That means that it no longer depends on the specialist hours table, but that you can do whatever you want there." Meidinger fears a "permanent loss of level".
Previously binding learning goals would be even less able to be achieved with the "4-plus-1 model" at schools in Saxony-Anhalt.
(ag/dpa)
