German court protects rights of student with heart condition

The Administrative Court of Düsseldorf has ruled in favor of a nine-year-old student from Wuppertal with a heart condition, who had been excluded from a multi-day school field trip.

The primary school had previously barred the student, citing health, pedagogical, and organizational concerns. The school argued that the necessary supervision and safety could not be reliably guaranteed due to the child's illness.

In its emergency ruling, the court clarified that field trips are not merely voluntary leisure activities but are essential components of the school's educational and social mandate. The court emphasized that such trips serve social integration, class community, and personality development.

Judges ruled that students with disabilities or chronic illnesses have the same rights and obligations to participate in school events as their peers. Schools cannot exclude students based solely on organizational difficulties; instead, they must take reasonable precautions to enable participation unless there is a concrete danger to the student's physical or mental health.