Education
Stark-Watzinger insists on more federal powers
Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger is also in favor of comprehensive language tests for daycare children. photo
© Britta Pedersen/dpa
For Education Minister Stark-Watzinger, it is clear: a more uniform education system and more speed in digitalization are needed. But for this to happen, the federal government must have more say.
Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger has called for the federal government to have more say in the matter education, especially in the area of digitalization. “We need more speed in education. (…) So far, the federal government has only been able to cooperate with all states to a limited extent,” said the FDP politician to the “Rheinische Post”. There is a need for a clear division of tasks “in which the federal government could be responsible for overarching issues such as digitalization.”
The federal government is currently only allowed to invest in technology in schools, such as laptops. “But a device alone does not make teaching digital. It would be better if the federal government could have more of a say in terms of sustainable effectiveness.” It is not an option to “just give money like before.”
The pressure to act has never been so great. “The surveys are clear: people want a more uniform education system in our country,” said Stark-Watzinger. Germany cannot afford to wait another ten years. “Federal, state and local governments must pull together.”
In addition, Stark-Watzinger spoke out in favor of comprehensive language tests for daycare children. Such tests already exist, but not everywhere, and if they exist, nothing necessarily follows from them. “We therefore also need mandatory language support for children who do not have sufficient command of the German language before starting school.”