The focus: school social workers raise the alarm!

The focus: school social workers raise the alarm!

Döbeln, Deutschland - in middle saxony, social inequality is increasingly getting into the spotlight. Current reports show that in 2022 around 16 percent of Saxon adolescents under the age of 18 were at risk of poverty, an alarming number that is urging the topic. About 5,000 young people under the age of 25 are particularly entitled to citizenship money, with a third of them between 8 and 16 years old. These figures make it clear that many children and adolescents 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 cases of young people who are homeless or homeless. Her colleague Stephanie Schramm from the Leisnig secondary school observes that some students can no longer live with their families.

A big problem is the fears that keep many children from looking for help. The stigmatization that goes hand in hand with poverty plays a crucial role. Children are afraid of negative consequences, such as moving to the children's home, and prefer to suffer in Silence. These children often stand out at school, be it due to poorly fitting clothes or a lack of food. The school social workers do everything possible to create sensitive and free offers to help the affected children and families.

social origin and educational opportunities

The topic of education is closely linked to social background. Children from disadvantaged families often find it difficult to achieve the same chances as their peers. Poverty not only affects academic achievements, but also the social participation and health of young people. According to the Buko school social work it can be seen that access to school and extra-curricular activities is severely restricted if the parents have a low income. This leads to a vicious circle that is difficult to break through. The social origin has a direct impact on educational success: children from academic families have the five times better chances of starting a degree than children from families without a high school diploma.

At the same time, the Federal Center for Political Education that only 50% of children from families with a low level of education achieve vocational training. In order to break through 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 cooperation.

Enlightenment is necessary

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

equal opportunities should be a goal for all children, not only for those who come from wealthy conditions. It is high time that society and politics take care of this topic and work together on solutions to actively counter poverty and the associated challenges.