New School Year Begins in Northern Germany Amid Student Growth

Students in Schleswig-Holstein are returning to school after a six-week summer break, marking the start of the new academic year. The state's education ministry anticipates a rise of about 6,800 students in public general education schools, bringing the total enrollment to roughly 297,800.

When vocational schools are included, the total number of students across Schleswig-Holstein is expected to reach around 373,000, attending a total of 797 schools. Education Minister Dorit Stenke confirmed that almost all of the 24,643 teaching positions allocated in the state budget are filled, an increase of 578 positions compared to the previous year.

The new school year introduces several curriculum changes. A "Democracy Hour" will be implemented for students in grades five through ten at community and grammar schools. Additionally, first-grade students in elementary schools will receive an extra hour of instruction each in German and mathematics this year. The first day of school for approximately 24,400 new first-graders is Wednesday, with an additional 1,300 children entering primary-level German as a Second Language programs.