Eastern German state elections spark debate on education and identity

Concerns over rising far-right influences in classrooms and shifting regional identities are driving political discussions in eastern Germany ahead of state elections. Educators in eastern schools report an increase in far-right behavior among students, including the display of banned symbols and songs. In response to gaps in historical awareness, Evelyn Zupke, the federal commissioner for victims of the communist SED dictatorship, called for compulsory student visits to East German memorial sites.

Concurrently, cultural policy has become a central campaign theme. In Saxony-Anhalt, where the Alternative for Germany (AfD) leads in opinion polls, the party's proposal to defund "anti-German" projects has raised concern among cultural institutions and Holocaust memorial initiatives. Meanwhile, Berlin faces administrative strain in its education sector, with nearly 400 teachers absent on sick leave for over a year.

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