Königstein in G9 fever: Parents are pushing for a return to the longer Abitur!

Königstein in G9 fever: Parents are pushing for a return to the longer Abitur!

There is a clear trend in Königstein: more and more parents want their children to be taught in high school according to the G9 model. According to the latest information from the Frankfurter Neue Presse, the Bischof Neumann School (BNS) reports the highest number of registrations in the last ten years. It remains the only school in the region that continues to offer the G8 model, where the Abitur is achieved after just 12 years.

The St. Angela School (SAS), however, has returned to the G9 model at the express request of parents and teachers. For the 2023/24 school year, SAS has opened four new entrance classes, which are now fully occupied. Here, 29 hours per week are offered for high school students and 28 hours for secondary school students. In contrast, the Taunusgymnasium Königstein (TGK) offers a combination model in which students can choose between G8 and G9. However, it can be observed that only one G8 class will be set up in the coming school year, while the majority of students choose G9. This development reflects parents' desire to eliminate afternoon classes in seventh and eighth grades, which makes the decision for G9 even easier.

School models in Hesse

The Hessian school system allows schools to offer the G8 and G9 models. The difference between these two models not only concerns the school community in Königstein, but is also a hotly debated topic at the state level. In Hesse there is freedom to choose between both G8 and G9, even at cooperating comprehensive schools. This approach is supported by the Hessian school law, which gives schools the opportunity to design the appropriate offering according to regional conditions and the school's own possibilities. The corresponding legal framework was anchored in Sections 24 and 26 of the Hessian School Act (HSchG), as reported by the Hesse Ministry of Culture website.

The choice between G8 and G9, which is available to students in the state of Hesse, allows schools to flexibly design their timetables. At the BNS, the timetable includes 31 hours per week, of which one hour is planned for digitalization, which is particularly important these days. In addition to the classic subjects, modern educational requirements are also taken into account.

A look beyond the borders of Hesse

The developments in Hesse should not be viewed in isolation. School time regulations, which date back to the 19th century, are being discussed in many places throughout Germany. In countries like Bavaria or Brandenburg, there are different approaches and schedules to ensure students receive the best possible education. In 2014, a resolution was passed in Bavaria for the further development of high schools that takes individual learning time and pedagogical design into account. While the variety of options is appreciated in Hesse, each federal state follows its own path. especially Hamburg, where the majority of the population has spoken out against a return to the G9.

The market situation for school education in Königstein clearly shows that parents and schools are actively involved in the current educational discussion. The return to the G9 model has gained momentum and is a sign of the need for more time for students' personal and academic development.

It remains to be seen how the different models will affect the quality of education in the long term. However, it is clear that the decision for the G9 model, which is favored by many parents in Königstein, is also viewed with skepticism by the TGK school management, as they are not planning to return to the pure G9 model.

For Königstein and the surrounding educational institutions, the ball is now in the hands of the decision-makers. The G9 is on the rise and will certainly be a topic of conversation in the coming years - not just in classrooms, but also in families.

Find out more about the different school models in Hesse on the website of the [Hesse Ministry of Education](https://kultus.hessen.de/schulsystem/schul Formen-und-bildungsgaenge/gymnasium/g8-und-g9) and a comprehensive overview of the debates about the shortened Abitur periods Education server.