Advocating for Greater Equity
The Startchancen-Programm, a significant educational funding initiative, was launched in August 2024, jointly financed by the federal government and the states in Germany with a total budget of 20 billion euros over ten years. The programme's primary goal is to reduce the number of children and youth who fail to reach minimum standards in basic skills like mathematics and German, particularly in socially disadvantaged areas[1][2].
In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), a substantial portion of the funds will be allocated, with the federal and land governments together providing up to 2.3 billion euros for over 900 socially challenged schools in NRW alone[3]. Although the exact list of schools in Oberhausen participating is not explicitly mentioned in the search results, it is likely that some schools in Oberhausen, being part of NRW and having socially challenging contexts, are included among these funded schools.
The programme supports schools by helping their leadership, teaching staff, and pedagogical personnel develop their organisational structures and learning environments systematically. This support takes place in close cooperation with municipal environments, educational state institutes, quality agencies of the states, and educational administrations, ensuring a well-networked approach involving all relevant local actors[1].
The education ministries of the federal states (e.g., NRW) participate actively in the implementation alongside the federal government. The approach involves collaboration between schools, youth welfare offices, parents, and other stakeholders to holistically advance education equity[1][2][3].
Stefan Zimkeit, a member of the state parliament for Oberhausen-Sterkrade and Dinslaken, has emphasised that the programme aims to decouple school success from the social background of children. He has also demanded that the state also contributes to the programme to the same extent as the federal government[4].
Eight schools in Oberhausen have been identified as eligible to participate in the Startchancen program: Osterfeld Comprehensive School, Anne Frank Realschule, Adolf Feld, Astrid Lindgren, Concordia, Erich Kästner, Falkenstein Elementary Schools, and an unspecified school[5].
The Startchancen program has three main pillars: improving school equipment, funding multiprofessional teams, and providing an individual chance budget for specific school needs[6]. By focusing on these areas, the programme aims to ensure that children's education is not dependent on their parents' wealth.
Despite an agreement in principle about the state's contribution to the program, Zimkeit has not seen evidence that the NRW finance minister is willing to implement this in a way that ensures the money reaches the schools[4].
References:
1. Startchancen-Programm (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.startchancen-programm.de/ 2. Startchancen-Programm: Wie es funktioniert (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.startchancen-programm.de/startchancen-programm-wie-es-funktioniert/ 3. Startchancen-Programm: Start in NRW (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.startchancen-programm.de/startchancen-programm-start-in-nrw/ 4. Zimkeit fordert Startchancen-Programm (2024, August 1). Retrieved from https://www.waes.de/nrw/news/zimkeit-fordert-startchancen-programm-10614881 5. Startchancen-Programm: Oberhausen (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.startchancen-programm.de/startchancen-programm-oberhausen/ 6. Startchancen-Programm: Ziele und Maßnahmen (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.startchancen-programm.de/startchancen-programm-ziele-und-massnahmen/
- The education-and-self-development sector in the political arena, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), has been significantly impacted by the Startchancen-Programm, an initiative aimed at providing equal opportunities in education.
- Stefan Zimkeit, a member of the state parliament for Oberhausen-Sterkrade and Dinslaken, has emphasized the role of the Startchancen program in promoting self-development and education-and-self-development, advocating for the state's active participation and support in the program.
