Bavaria begins new school year with record enrollment

The new school year has commenced in Bavaria, with 1.77 million students returning to classes. This year sees approximately 132,000 first-graders entering the school system, marking the highest student enrollment in 15 years.

Despite the rising numbers, Education Minister Anna Stolz noted that teacher supply remains “very tense.” Concurrently, concerns regarding school route safety have been raised. The ADFC Bayern highlighted that many routes are not sufficiently safe for children, noting that in 2024, over 27,000 children under 15 were involved in traffic accidents across Germany, with more than a third occurring on bicycles.

In response to safety concerns, Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann has announced increased controls, specifically focusing on car occupants not wearing seatbelts. The ADFC advises parents to practice safe routes with their children during typical school commuting hours to ensure they are prepared for independent travel.