School path chaos: Berlin sixth graders are fighting for desired school!

School path chaos: Berlin sixth graders are fighting for desired school!

Berlin, Deutschland - schooling can be a real challenge for many families, especially if the move to secondary school is due. In Berlin, many parents face the question of where their child will land after primary school. More and more Berlin children have to prepare for longer ways of school when they reach the 7th grade. According to the chairman of the State Parental Committee, Norman Heise, the way to school can take up to an hour in some cases - this becomes a reality for many freshly baked seventh graders. Heise describes 45 minutes as an acceptable limit, while the education administration does not share this assessment. Almost every tenth sixth grader has no place at his desired school and is therefore forced to attend a further away school, which increases the pressure on the parents.

What to do in this Situation? Lawyers advise the parents concerned to object. This can help to move the school administration to check the assignment and possibly secure a place closer to the place of residence. With such complaints, however, the chance of success is only around 50:50, since it depends heavily on possible procedural errors. A lawsuit can also quickly cost several thousand euros. Heise fears that even in the coming school year, many students will not get to their desired school, which has a lot of uncertainties.

The pressure on students and parents

The situation becomes even more complicated by abolishing the trial year at high schools. This creates more places at integrated secondary schools (ISS), which could possibly relieve some of the crowded high schools. Nevertheless, you should find out about switching to 7th grade in autumn and take part in the corresponding information events. It is also important to collect information material about the overwhelming schools. The grade average also plays an important role in the probability of getting a place at a sought -after school.

The problem of schooling has increased in recent years and not only affects sixth graders. Lea Comans, a specialist lawyer for administrative law with specialization in school places, emphasizes that the pressure on children, especially with aptitude tests, is enormous. As she reports, on February 21, 2023, almost 2,000 sixth graders in Berlin took part in the high school. By March 5, parents have to find out whether their child is recognized as "high school -compatible", which leads to uncertainties for many parents. Comans expects many to object to negative results.

school places and their effects

parents are often exposed to a variety of requirements and often less transparent criteria, which are not clearly defined at all when awarding high school recommendations under the new examination conditions. The success of complaints against rejection notices depends heavily on the evidence of possible procedural errors. It becomes particularly complicated for primary school places - families can specify a desired school here, which can nevertheless be rejected without giving reasons. In her practice, Comans has had enormous successes with primary school plans, with a success rate of over 90 percent in Berlin. School offices are often cooperative and want to avoid judicial disputes.

For many parents, the question now arises how they can best prepare for the change of school place of their children. It remains to be hoped that the challenges associated with the change of school will gain something in the near future so that the children can concentrate on the essentials: their education.