Alliance calls for expansion of school social work

An alliance of trade unions, parents' and pupils' councils and the secondary school teachers' association has called for the nationwide expansion of school social work in Saxony. "Media consumption, violence, bullying and stress among children and young people have been on the rise for years," said the chairman of the education union GEW Sachsen, Burkhard Naumann, according to a statement on Thursday. "We are calling for a gradual expansion at all general education schools by 2030 with solid funding from the state as well as additional funding for schools with special challenges."

According to the GEW, school social work is currently only legally stipulated at secondary schools and community schools in Saxony. The expansion at secondary schools has stagnated at 40 percent since 2019. Across the state, there are around 640 full-time positions for this - the alliance is calling for around 1,300 full-time positions by 2030.