Germany's 'most dangerous school' gets new leadership amid ongoing crisis

Ludwigshafen's Karolina-Burger-Realschule plus, once labeled "Germany's most dangerous school," is undergoing a leadership change amidst ongoing severe challenges. The school has grappled with violence in its hallways, threats with weapons, and a crisis of basic literacy and numeracy among students, prompting intervention from the state parliament's education committee.

The decision to replace the school's leadership was announced by the education ministry and the supervisory authority in Trier. While a police operation in the spring had temporarily calmed the situation, it failed to achieve the necessary "sustainable internal personnel stabilization." The state has now declared it must assume responsibility for the school's future development.

Compounding the crisis, a significant number of teachers have reported sick since the summer break. At the start of the school year, up to 15 teachers reported ill daily, and in the second week, 17 out of 54 teachers were absent. Teachers have repeatedly reported insults and assaults from students, with one educator telling SWR in November last year, "We are no longer able to control these things. We try to protect the children and ourselves, but it is not possible under these conditions."

Previously, the now-ousted principal defended the student body, characterizing the school as a "high-risk area" where "hundreds of children have been put in a drawer where they don't belong." He acknowledged that a small number of students were known to the police but insisted that the remaining 750 students were "very nice."