Eastern German schools and arts institutions face pressure ahead of elections

Ahead of upcoming state elections in eastern Germany, education and cultural sectors face growing political and operational pressures. Teachers in eastern states report an increase in far-right extremism among students, including the use of illegal symbols. To improve historical awareness, Evelyn Zupke, the federal commissioner for SED victims, has called for mandatory student visits to former East German dictatorship memorial sites.

Concurrently, regional identity has become a central theme in election campaigning. In Saxony-Anhalt, the Alternative for Germany party has proposed defunding cultural initiatives it considers "anti-German," raising concerns among heritage and arts institutions. Meanwhile, administrative challenges persist in Berlin's school system, where nearly 400 teachers have been on continuous sick leave for over a year.

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