Advocating for Increased Equity
In the city of Oberhausen, eight schools will participate in the Startchance program, an initiative aimed at decoupling school success from the social background of students. The schools eligible for this program are Osterfeld Comprehensive School, Anne Frank Realschule, Adolf Feld, Astrid Lindgren, Concordia, Erich Kästner, and Falkenstein Primary Schools.
The selection criterion for the Startchance program is the school social index, which takes into account the proportion of students with a migration background and the risk of poverty in the neighborhood. This program aims to ensure that the education of children is not dependent on the wealth of their parents.
Stefan Zimkeit, a member of the state parliament for Oberhausen-Sterkrade and Dinslaken, has been a strong advocate for this program. He stated that some schools are more affected than others and it is right to support schools in more needy areas more than schools in wealthier areas. He also demanded that the state also contribute to the program to the same extent, as education is a state matter.
While the state finance minister has agreed in principle to contribute to the program, Stefan Zimkeit cannot yet see that the money will actually reach the schools. He also mentioned that this funding was achieved at the federal level, which the state government was unable to do.
The Startchance program in Oberhausen will address the worsened situation at schools following the pandemic. The program funding is divided into three pillars: improving the school's equipment, funding multiprofessional teams, and providing an individual opportunity budget for the school's specific needs. A total of 2.3 billion euros in federal funds will flow to NRW through the Startchance program.
For those seeking more detailed information about the Startchance program in Oberhausen, it is recommended to consult official Oberhausen city government websites or local job centers for precise and up-to-date program details.
- Stefan Zimkeit, a member of the state parliament, supports the Startchance program in Oberhausen, emphasizing the need for more funding in schools with higher social needs, as politics plays a vital role in ensuring equal education opportunities for all students.
- The Startchance program, with a focus on education-and-self-development, addresses general-news issues such as existing social disparities in schools and the impact of the pandemic, providing resources for improving school facilities, funding multiprofessional teams, and individual opportunity budgets.
