Child poverty in focus: school social workers sound the alarm!

Child poverty in focus: school social workers sound the alarm!

In Central Saxony, social inequality is increasingly coming into the spotlight. Current reports show that in 2022 around 16 percent of Saxon young people under the age of 18 were at risk of poverty, an alarming number that pushes the issue. In Central Saxony in particular, around 5,000 young people under the age of 25 are entitled to citizen's benefit, with a third of them being between 8 and 16 years old. These figures make it clear that many children and young people live in precarious conditions and urgently need help. Sarah-Renée Spreer, school social worker at a learning support school in Döbeln, speaks of a large number of unreported young people who are homeless or homeless. Her colleague Stephanie Schramm from Leisniger High School observes that some students can no longer live with their families.

A big problem is fear, which prevents many children from seeking help. The stigmatization that accompanies poverty plays a crucial role. Children are afraid of negative consequences, such as moving to a children's home, and prefer to suffer in silence. These children often attract attention at school, be it through ill-fitting clothing or a lack of food. The school social workers do everything they can to create sensitive and free offers to help the children and families affected.

Social background and educational opportunities

The topic of education is closely linked to social background. Children from disadvantaged families often find it difficult to gain the same opportunities as their peers. Poverty not only affects school performance, but also social participation and health of young people. According to the Buko school social work shows that access to school and extracurricular activities is severely limited if parents have a low income. This creates a vicious circle that is difficult to break. Social background has a direct impact on educational success: children from academic families have five times better chances of starting a course of study than children from families without a high school diploma.

At the same time it shows Federal Agency for Civic Education that only 50% of children from families with a low level of education achieve vocational training. In order to break this cycle, it is necessary to decouple social background and educational success. School social work has an important role here by trying to change social structures and promote more conscious coexistence.

Clarification is necessary

The school social workers are also calling for a rethink in politics and the responsible authorities. Many politicians and authorities often have no real understanding of the living conditions of people affected by poverty. Education about this topic is essential in order to make the realities of young people's lives visible and to promote understanding. So far there have been no cuts in youth work in Central Saxony; however, many other counties are experiencing cuts. This development is perceived as dangerous for the future.

Equal opportunities should be a goal for all children, not just those who come from wealthy backgrounds. It is high time for society and politics to address this issue and work together on solutions to actively counteract poverty and the associated challenges.