Students and teachers fight back: 20 million euros for education are at risk!

Students and teachers fight back: 20 million euros for education are at risk!

Things are boiling in Hesse: the state government's plans to cut school budgets have triggered a wave of resistance. Students, teachers and parents are vigorously defending themselves against these decisions, which not only endanger everyday school life, but could also permanently undermine trust in education financing. The Hessian state government plans to make significantly less budget available in the future and to severely limit schools' ability to build up reserves. Previously, reserves could be used over a period of three years, but now they will only be available for one year. In addition, a total of 20 million euros in reserves are to flow back into the state budget, which puts many educational projects in Hesse at risk.

As early as March 5, 2025, the Ministry of Culture informed school management about these drastic savings measures. Schools have once again been given a short window of time to revise their budget plans, which endangers numerous projects that have already been decided. The state student council has already launched a petition against these cuts and has found over 5,145 supporters. The demands are clear: “No cuts in the school budget – no savings on education,” is how the students titled their initiative, which is aimed directly at the Hessian state parliament.

Response to the cuts

The reactions range from cautious to outraged. The German Teachers' Association (dlh) sharply criticizes the measures and maintains the need to create planning security for schools. A third of the reserves should still be available to schools, but the rest goes into the state budget - a measure that many describe as an “education policy disaster”. “What remains of the flexibility in personnel planning if two thirds of the reserves are taken away?” asks the state school spokesman Laurenz Spies and warns of the serious consequences of these decisions. The reserves are not only a financial cushion, but also an important basis for planning further training and educational representation.

In order to increase the pressure on the government, the student representatives not only started the petition, but also announced protest actions on Friday. The FDP criticizes the “confiscation of two thirds of the school reserves” and calls for more transparency from the Ministry of Culture. The SPD parliamentary group, on the other hand, defends the measure and points to the increase in the education budget by 5.9 percent to around 5.8 billion euros for 2025.

The concerns of those affected

The strained budget plans, which have to be revised within a few days, not only bring uncertainty to schools, but also make it clear how important reliable financing is. The state student council has already expressed concerns that these measures will jeopardize many educational offerings and projects at schools. Reserves that have been saved over the years for long-term projects are now at risk. In addition, there are hardly any comprehensible reasons for the sudden cuts.

The schools are hoping for a rethink from the government. Ultimately, education is a long-term investment in the future - not just for students, but for society as a whole. Time is running out and many are excited to see how the situation will develop. Because if you have learned one thing: education is not a luxury, but a fundamental pillar of our society.

Sources: HNA, OpenPetition, Hesse show.