Brandenburg Maintains School Attendance Requirement Amid Calls for Home Learning
The state parliament in Brandenburg has decided to uphold the traditional school attendance requirement, rejecting proposals that would allow parents to fulfill compulsory education at home. The initiative, brought forward by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, sought to amend federal regulations to permit home schooling as an alternative to classroom instruction, provided educational standards were met.
During the parliamentary session, a majority coalition consisting of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and the Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) voted against the proposal. The coalition emphasized that schools in Germany serve not only as centers for academic learning but also play a crucial role in social integration and the development of interpersonal skills. According to representatives, the existing school attendance law fosters equality in education and ensures children gain exposure to diverse social environments.
Supporters of maintaining the current system argued that schools are vital for both educational and social development. They highlighted that in addition to academic instruction, schools provide structured environments for children to learn tolerance, social responsibility, and how to interact with peers from different backgrounds. The school setting is also regarded as a safeguard against the formation of isolated communities and helps in fostering societal cohesion.
Advocates for the continuation of compulsory classroom attendance further noted that the school system offers stability for families by providing reliable educational services, professional teaching staff, and broad support structures, including full-day programs. The current framework, they argued, avoids shifting the burden of educational responsibility onto families, many of whom may lack the resources or expertise to deliver a comprehensive curriculum at home.
In contrast, the AfD argued that the existing education system is facing challenges such as teacher shortages, frequent class cancellations, deteriorating school infrastructure, and difficulties integrating children from refugee and immigrant backgrounds. The party proposed that expanding the definition of compulsory education to include home learning would give families more flexibility, especially if they could demonstrate adherence to established educational standards.
Despite acknowledging the challenges highlighted by the AfD, the majority of parliamentarians maintained that solutions should be sought within the current school system, rather than moving towards home-based education. They stressed that the school attendance law is a key element in promoting social equity and ensuring that all children, regardless of their family background, receive consistent and regulated education.
The outcome of the deliberation confirms Brandenburg's commitment to the traditional school attendance policy. The state government, along with its coalition partners, reaffirmed the importance of public schools in providing education, social integration, and equal opportunities for all students. The proposal to shift compulsory schooling to the home was ultimately dismissed, underscoring a collective preference for structured, state-supervised educational environments.