/ Digital is a must

Schoolchildren, parents and teachers have all been severely affected by the pandemic-related school closures. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom has developed proposals on upgrading the education systemafter the coronavirus crisis magnified its failings. Far too many lessons have been cancelled, far too many children have lacked the equipment to participate in online lessons, and far too many teachers had no online lesson concept. In addition to that, the innovative ideas that many of the schools came up with were either blocked by the regulators or obstructed by red tape. These education system failures meant that parents had to step in as temporary teachers. Those with the necessary time and financial resources organised digital lessons for their children with learning games, YouTube videos and learning apps. But it was ‘tough luck’ as usual for children from less affluent backgrounds.

People have been bemoaning the inequalities in the German education system for years, and the gap will continue to widen unless we finally take it forward into the 21st century. What we need is proper online lessons that do not involve the chaotic distribution of PDF worksheets by e-mail. Dahrendorf’s ‘right to education for citizens’ continues to apply in a pandemic. Liberal education policies focus on empowering children to better themselves. In this age of digitalisation, globalisation and new work, our children need flexibility, creativity, and a willingness to work independently and embrace new concepts: in other words, they need resilience. Since all children need these skills, there can be no inequality in the education system. It is important that we begin developing strategies now that will allow the education system to become more free, fair, efficient, shock-resistant, flexible and transparent.