German education and cultural policies spark debate ahead of eastern elections

Education and cultural policy have become key topics of debate across Germany ahead of upcoming state elections in the east. Teachers in eastern states report increasing far-right symbolism and nationalist behavior among students, prompting calls for stronger democratic education. To address knowledge gaps regarding East German history, Evelyn Zupke, the federal commissioner for victims of the SED dictatorship, advocated for mandatory school visits to former DDR memorial sites.

In Saxony-Anhalt, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party proposed cutting state funding for cultural initiatives deemed "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, placing further pressure on the capital's educational system.

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