German schools implement measures to combat extremism and racism

German educational institutions are implementing various measures to combat rising political extremism, racism, and discrimination within schools.

In Cologne, the EL-DE-Haus e. V. association supports the NS Documentation Center in providing workshops for schools. These sessions address issues such as antisemitism, right-wing extremism, and discriminatory behavior. Following a successful campaign titled ‘Democracy is non-negotiable’, these workshops will continue to be offered to help students and teachers navigate social and political tensions.

In Saxony, a new action plan has been introduced to address politically motivated crimes, including racial insults and the use of extremist symbols like swastikas. The plan includes sensitizing school leadership, providing teacher training to recognize unconstitutional activities, and offering legal guidance for school regulations. Additionally, Saxony intends to make social studies and law education mandatory for 10th-grade students and introduce new classroom hours focused on democracy and media literacy to build student resilience.