Berlin: Teachers may wear headscarves in class in the future!

Berlin: Teachers may wear headscarves in class in the future!

Berlin, Deutschland - Today, an impending change in law in Berlin causes a stir that concerns wearing headscarves for teachers in schools. CDU and SPD have agreed to reform the controversial neutrality law in accordance with the case law of the Federal Constitutional Court. In the future, women who teach in schools will fundamentally be allowed to wear a headscarf - unless there is a concrete threat to school peace. This judgment makes it clear that religious symbols may only be restricted if an actual disorder can be expected. This reports, among other things, the Welt .

The main need for this adaptation is a decision by the Federal Constitutional Court from 2022, which classified a general ban on headscarf for state employees as unconstitutional. As a result, the ban was no longer used strictly and the teacher administration made it clear that a ban was only justified in the case of specific indications. In the future, the school supervision will decide whether to wear a headscarf in individual cases.

In addition to this reform, there is a number of other legislative proposals on the agenda of the coalition tips from the CDU and SPD, which are to be implemented shortly before the summer break. Among them are the planned socialization framework law, reforms in the police law, and the introduction of an apprenticeship levy that the goal of creating additional training positions by the end of 2025, the Tagesspiegel .

an insight into the legislative projects

Special attention applies to the topic of minimum wages in Berlin. The state minimum wage, currently at 13.69 euros, will be linked to the nationwide minimum wages in the future. This is currently 12.82 euros and may be a maximum of 1.50 euros above. In addition, comprehensive reforms of the general security and regulatory law are on the plan, which includes a possible expansion of video surveillance in crime-contaminated places such as Alexanderplatz. These measures are intended to serve, among other things, to improve victim protection through electronic ankle cuffs for violent ex-partners.

Another relevant point in the discussion is the planned supplementary budget for 2025, which provides for additional loans of 400 million euros in order to cope with increased costs for the accommodation of refugees. These measures are part of a larger plan in order not only to increase social security, but also to take into account the ongoing situation in the city. In a comment on the change in the law, the SPD parliamentary group leader Raed Saleh stated that this reform is a clarification of the constitutional necessity that has been overdue for years.

criticism and outlook

Despite progress, there are critical voices, especially from the opposition. The Greens describe the reform of the Neutrality Act as inadequate and as a "lazy compromise". The controversy for the topic will probably remain, since the social discourse on good integration options and diversity in schools should continue to become more important.

The reforms of the Neutrality Act and the numerous other legislative initiatives show that a certain need for action was recognized in Berlin politics. The next legislative step will take place in the House of Representatives on July 10, 2025, where these topics are advised. How the plans of the coalition partners will continue remains exciting - one thing is certain: the capital is going well, and the challenges are not waiting.