Schwerin is fighting racism: primary school Northern Lights joins!

Schwerin is fighting racism: primary school Northern Lights joins!

Schwerin, Deutschland - The primary school "Schwerin Northern Lighters" sets a strong sign against racism and discrimination: It has joined the network "School without Racism - School with Courage". This step was recognized as part of a festive act, in which Federal Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan (SPD) was also present. She has sponsored school and emphasizes the importance of such initiatives to encourage students to actively deal with discrimination and violence. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, 69 schools are now part of this inspiring network, which campaigns for a respectful school climate. Schwerin Lokal reports that prominent sponsors such as the musician Marteria and the sailor Matthias Bohn support some of these schools.

The relevance of such initiatives is underpinned by the alarming numbers: According to the Ministry of Education Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the reports reported with extremist or racist background have increased more and more in recent years. While no case with an extremist background was registered in the 2014/2015 school year, there are already 100 cases in the school year 2023/2024. In particular, the number of incidents in the area of the "license plate and propaganda medium of unconstitutional organizations" rose from 16 to 95. Die Welt illustrates that 38 such cases and 43 with extremist background already reported in the current school year 2024/2025 with an extremist background were.

a serious order for education policy

Where does this rising number of incidents come from? The context is alarming: over 1,500 incidents of violence, including assault and threats, were registered in the school year 2023/2024. MPs from the Schwerin coalition are concerned about the increase in violence, extremism and anti -Semitism in schools. "A good knack for education policy" is required here to check and adapt existing antigenwalt concepts so that children and adolescents can learn in a safe environment.

In addition, there are relationships between racism and the academic performance of children with a migration background. A recently completed study by the DEZIM institute has found that pupils with a migration background in subjects such as German and mathematics are often rated more worse than their classmates without a migration background. This illustrates the need to reduce prejudices and create equal opportunities. Decim-Institut demands a rethink in education policy.

At the primary school "Schwerin Northern Lights", these issues have now arrived: With the accession to the network "School without Racism - School with Courage", teachers and students are actively involved in discrimination and are committed to respectful coexistence. The beginning has been made, and it is to be hoped that this step will motivate further schools to follow the example to set a strong sign against racism together.