Education and culture top German political debate ahead of regional votes

Education and cultural policy have emerged as prominent issues ahead of upcoming state elections in eastern Germany. Teachers in eastern states report increasing incidents of right-wing extremism among students, including the use of illegal symbols and nationalist songs. To address gaps in historical awareness, Evelyn Zupke, the federal commissioner for victims of the SED dictatorship, advocated for mandatory school visits to former East German memorial sites.

Concurrently, regional identity plays a central role in political campaigning across the region. In Saxony-Anhalt, the Alternative for Germany party proposed cutting state funding for cultural programs considered "anti-German," raising concerns for institutions such as the Bauhaus and Holocaust memorials. Meanwhile, administrative data from Berlin revealed that nearly 400 schoolteachers have been on long-term sick leave for over a year.

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