Heat-free in Saxony: school management decides on lessons at 36 degrees!

Heat-free in Saxony: school management decides on lessons at 36 degrees!

The next few days could be quite hot for many students in Saxony. The German Weather Service predicts temperatures of up to 36 degrees, which poses a challenge for school management. In Saxony there is no nationwide uniform regulation for heat-free, which means that the decision is solely the responsibility of the school management. They can decide for themselves whether the lessons will continue or not. However, there are no set specifications for temperatures or times from when heat-free can be granted LVZ reports.

It also turns out that in Saxony heat-free can usually be granted from a temperature of at least 25 degrees. Especially in cities like Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz, school management has the final say. In fact, those responsible have the option not only of canceling classes, but also of shortening or extending break times, for example SWP explained in detail.

Flexibility of schools

A new trend in Saxony is the introduction of summer timetables. Lesson units are shortened to prevent entire subjects from being canceled. These regulations could be particularly applicable in the first week of the school year, as many students usually do not have lessons after 12 p.m. during this time. Alternative options are also a creative solution: schools are allowed to take their classes outdoors, into the forest or even into the swimming pool. Project lessons outside of school are also permitted.

The situation in Saxony differs greatly from other federal states in Germany. While in Brandenburg, Bremen, Saxony-Anhalt, Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia the heat-free decision is usually made at 10 or 11 a.m. when temperatures are between 25 and 27 degrees, there is no such clear timetable in Saxony. Here, upper school classes in particular are often excluded from heat-free activities, while in Saarland schools are even prohibited from sending children home in hot weather unless care cannot be guaranteed.

Criticism and challenges

The lack of official figures for heat-free in Saxony, where lesson cancellations are not broken down by reason, leaves room for criticism. What is certain is that the heated days will pose decision-making questions for many schools. It remains exciting to see how the school management will react to the expected temperatures. A heat record approaching at the end of the week will certainly prompt one or two schools to think about creative solutions to enable students to learn bearably on hot days.

For further background on the situation in Germany: Mirror provides comprehensive information about heat regulations in the federal states.