What does the school of the future look like? What expectations will education have to meet? Minister of Education Christian Piwarz initiated the project “Bildungsland Sachsen 2030” (“Land of Education – Saxony 2030”) to fundamentally and comprehensively address these questions. “The goal of the project is to devise a strategy by the end of 2023 for developing the essential conditions for Saxon schools so they are best prepared to continue to perform their educational tasks well into the future,” says Minister of Education Christian Piwarz. The minister made reference to megatrends in society and commerce that present continual challenges to schooling. These include digitalization, which continues to pervade our private and professional lives, and which is also reflected in the opportunities made available by artificial intelligence. Piwarz also mentioned increased migration as a result of crises, wars and climate change, increased awareness of the finiteness of natural resources, and the societal trend toward individualism that is characterized by increasing heterogeneity in student bodies in schools. This leads to new issues in schools.

“How can we reorganize schools so that we are able to react swiftly to complex issues in a world that has become more complex and increasingly plagued with crises? How can we take advantage of the potential offered by digitalization to efficiently handle our resources? How can it support individual and personalized stages of learning? What professionals besides teachers do we need to employ in Saxony’s schools? How can we bolster interdisciplinary and interconnected learning and what forms of teaching would this require? These questions and many more cannot be discussed without outside input. In order to take the necessary strategic steps, we are seeking advice from experts and representatives of the public who are involved with schools,” the Minister says.

The advising will occur in two stages. In the first phase, proven experts from science, industry, churches and schools as well as education authorities will draft specific recommendations for the further development of school education in four areas of activity by summer 2023. The Ministry appointed Prof. Michael Kobel, Vice-Rector Academic Affairs, and Prof. Anja Besand (Didactics of Political Education) from TU Dresden to the Experts’ Council for Education and Prof. Rolf Koerber (responsible for the subject Economy, Technology and Household/Social Affairs and Dean of Studies) to the Experts’ Council for Management. “Universities and schools intersect in many ways, ranging from all phases of teacher training to skills-based learning processes and promotion of individual learning to challenges associated with transitioning from school to university,” Prof. Kobel emphasizes. “I look forward to an open discussion that is relevant to all parties involved in order to identify the new demands on Saxon schools arising from overall societal change within the ‘education’ area of activity of the ‘Bildungsland Sachsen 2030’ project.”

Subsequently, the second stage will be an advisory phase in which teachers, principals, parents, pupils and partners of the public who are involved with schools will subject the experts’ recommendations to a practical review in five regional education forums in the time leading up to autumn 2023. A conclusive strategy should be ready by the end of 2023 so that implementation can gradually begin in 2024.

Four expert councils oriented toward specific areas of activity should take part in this advising process to formulate proposals for measures.

The areas of activity have already been established by a project group created just for this purpose, with advice from representatives of the state pupils’ council, the state parents’ council, and the state education council as well as all staff of the state education administration and select principals from the various types of schools.

The focus lies on the “Education” area of activity. This topic involves discussions on topics such as teaching plans, the purpose of grades and homework, and the skills pupils need in an ever-changing and digital world.

The “Management” area of activity addresses in which areas schools require more creative leeway to independently organize themselves according to their needs and how partners can provide useful support. This also includes discussing how timetables can be designed with more flexibility.

Experts in the “Professionalization” area of activity are concerned with issues such as multiprofessional teams that can properly cover the growing spectrum of tasks in schools as well as how to encourage teachers’ philosophy and ambitions to actively strive for greater professionalization. They will also consider whether advanced training courses should be obligatory.

The “Infrastructure” area of activity is dedicated to the following questions: How can schools become more open and be integrated into a large educational landscape in Saxony? What spatial factors play a role for a school that would like to follow its own independent strategies? What does sustainable digital infrastructure look like? How can various educational institutions work together better?

You can find more information on “Bildungsland Sachsen 2030,” its background, the areas of activity, the composition of the experts’ councils and education forums, and the process sequence at www.bildungsland2030.sachsen.de. Registration to attend the five education forums will also be open there as of May 10.

Media contact:
SAXON MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
Press Office and Public Relations
Tel.: +49 351 564-65100
Email:
Web: www.smk.sachsen.de