Ludwigshafen crisis school: ADD says, “We are not hiding”

After months of damaging headlines, Rhineland-Palatinate’s education authority is moving directly into Ludwigshafen’s Karolina-Burger-Realschule plus to oversee what it calls a new start.

ADD President Andreas Kruppert presented a “three-part approach of personnel changes as well as educational and structural measures” after holding numerous discussions in the city. The goal, he said, is to guide the troubled school into calmer waters.

“We need a new start for this school. We owe that to the students,” Kruppert said. Staff, parents and student representatives were informed about the measures in a larger meeting. Kruppert said transparency was important because some of the steps might be unprecedented at the school.

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We need a new start for this school. We owe that to the students.

The authority has also applied to the administrative court to dissolve the local staff council. Kruppert described the move as an “absolute exceptional case” prompted by “serious breaches of duty,” while stressing that staff representation generally has high importance.

The reforms are intended to protect the wellbeing of children and young people and restore peace at the school. Two ADD employees will be present on site from now on. “We are not hiding, but going in there,” Kruppert said. “We also want us to achieve successes together.” The participants agreed to meet again before the autumn holidays to review progress.

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We are not hiding, but going in there. We also want us to achieve successes together.