Digital education in Rhineland-Palatinate: Schools are preparing for the future!

Digital education in Rhineland-Palatinate: Schools are preparing for the future!

In the context of progressive digitization at schools in Rhineland-Palatinate, current developments on digital devices and WLAN networks were discussed in a meeting of the school authority committee. As the Rheinpfalz reports, most technology deliveries have already been carried out and the installations are running, with the last deliveries that are expected for June 2024. The Schillerschule and the Ernst Reuter School have now put their WLAN network into operation, while the trial operation of technology is to run until the summer vacation 2024.

Andreas Rohr from the social administration pointed out that further funds for the purchase of additional class tablets and mobile presentation technology are planned for 2025. In addition, the project "Media Competence Makes School" is implemented at both primary schools, which is funded by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate with 7,500 euros each for equipment and training.

digital pact 2.0: A decisive support

The digital pact 2.0, which was decided in December 2024 after intensive negotiations between the federal and state governments, represents significant support for digital education. It has a total term of six years and provides for investments of a total of 5 billion euros that are evenly divided between the federal and state governments. This was confirmed both by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research as well as from the Bildungs ​​Minister Conference.

The objectives of the digital package include the improvement of the digital infrastructure in schools, the further training of teachers, as well as the development of innovative teaching and learning methods. Powerful WLAN networks, modern end devices and digital learning platforms are to be built up in schools. One central element is the three strands of action: the expansion of the digital infrastructure, the digitization of school and teaching development as well as the initiative "Digital Teaching and Learning".

financing and agreements

The federal government provides 2.25 billion euros for the digital educational infrastructure, while the federal states are 2.5 billion euros, of which around 2 billion euros can be credited by measures that have already been planned. However, there are no funds as part of the digital pact for school and teaching development or educational media. In addition, the federal states must submit specific agreements to the three storylines by mid -February 2025.

Federal Minister Cem Özdemir has highlighted the importance of digital education for the life perspectives of children and the economic future of Germany. The digital pact is therefore an indispensable tool to make schools fit for the digital future and to promote educational justice, as Christine Streichert-Clivot, President of the Education Ministers' Conference 2024, stated.

The real operation of the new digital infrastructure in the schools in Rhineland-Palatinate is scheduled to start at the beginning of the school year 2025/2026. However, there is no precise time frame when the schools will be connected to the fiber optic network, which is a challenge for many schools.