Hesse's schools in the education monitor: seventh place and major challenges

Just a week after the “PISA shock” about the poor performance of German fifteen-year-olds in an international comparison, at least the students in Hesse are landing comparatively gently. In the Germany-wide educational monitor comparison study, your federal state slipped one place, but remained in the middle field with seventh place.

The state government and Hessian teachers now know what they have to work on. Because the education monitor delivers much more differentiated results than the PISA study. While only basic skills are measured there, the education monitor is also about integration, support, digitalization and much more. The picture is correspondingly complex. This is helpful because it allows you to work with it.

Hesse therefore has some strengths, but also many weaknesses. On the plus side: Hesse is a leader in integrating foreign students. In no other federal state does educational success depend less heavily on origin. This is a good sign, because graduating from school is the basis for social advancement and economic success for immigrant students.

The role of digitalization was recognized too late

Digitalization is one of the weaknesses. The fact that there was no coherent concept for uniform computer science teaching for years is taking its toll here. The state government recognized this disadvantage and the growing importance of digitalization too late. At least she immediately corrected her colossal mistake of abolishing the “Digital World” pilot subject. From the next school year onwards, a school subject will finally be included in the curriculum that is intended to prepare students for the digitalization of our society. Hopefully the country has not yet lost touch.

Another concern is that Hesse is at the bottom of the rankings when it comes to per capita spending on education. When it comes to expenditure per student in relation to state expenditure per inhabitant, Hesse is in second to last place among secondary schools. This development is likely to get even worse because savings also need to be made in the education budget.

Hessian educational spending on vocational schools and universities is also below average. The fact that the Eureka program for investments in construction projects at universities has been stretched from five to ten years, while the investment amount remains the same, is an alarming sign. Anyone who saves on education risks the future. And the country cannot afford that.