Eastern German election campaigns spur debate over education and cultural policy

Ahead of regional elections in eastern Germany, debates surrounding political culture, historical memory, and education have intensified. Teachers in eastern state schools report an uptick in far-right symbols and extremist behavior among students, prompting calls for increased civic education. To address knowledge gaps regarding communist rule, federal commissioner for victims of the communist dictatorship Evelyn Zupke proposed mandatory student visits to former East German memorial sites.

Simultaneously, identity politics remain central to election campaigns, alongside controversy in Saxony-Anhalt where the Alternative for Germany party proposed stripping public funding from cultural projects deemed "anti-German."

Meanwhile, in Berlin, public education faces administrative challenges as Senate data reveals nearly 400 teachers have been on continuous sick leave for over a year.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Spiegel, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau