Education in schools
Federal Minister of Education for a day of action against anti-Semitism
In Stark-Watzinger’s opinion, a day of action would offer the opportunity to deal intensively with anti-Semitism. photo
© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
Anti-Semitism also exists in schools and universities. A survey showed corresponding attitudes among students. A day of action is now proposed.
Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger supports a nationwide system Day of action against anti-Semitism at schools and universities. The FDP politician told the dpa in Berlin that she expressly supports the corresponding proposal from the Federal Government’s Anti-Semitism Commissioner, Felix Klein. “Since Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, anti-Semitic and anti-Israel incidents in society have increased significantly. This particularly affects schools and universities. We cannot accept this.”
In Stark-Watzinger’s opinion, a day of action would offer the opportunity to intensively deal with anti-Semitism, reduce prejudices and resentments and strengthen moral courage. “This would make an important contribution to the prevention of anti-Semitism in the education sector,” she said.
Klein had called in the newspapers of the Funke media group to organize a day of action at schools and universities before the summer holidays. In his opinion, this could be supported by a broad alliance with the collaboration of the Federal Agency for Civic Education, organizations such as the Amadeu Antonio Foundation and Christian and Muslim communities.
“But we also need the support of the Conference of Culture Ministers,” Klein said and made an appeal to the current president of the conference, the Saarland Education Minister Christine Streichert-Clivot (SPD). Anti-Semitism threatens not only the Jewish community, but democracy itself.