Saxon Court bars prospective teacher from training

The Saxon Higher Administrative Court has upheld a decision to bar a prospective teacher from beginning her practical training (Referendariat) at a gymnasium in Dresden. The applicant, identified in media reports as the daughter of publisher Götz Kubitschek, had her admission revoked by the State Office for School and Education following concerns regarding her loyalty to the constitution.

The Saxon Office for the Protection of the Constitution reported that the woman regularly attended events of the Institute for State Policy (IfS) between 2022 and 2025. The court classified the IfS as a group categorized as right-wing extremist and hostile to the constitution. While the applicant argued her attendance was for purely family-related reasons, the court rejected her appeal, noting that her participation supported an organization with anti-constitutional aims.

The ruling has sparked discussions regarding the ‘Radikalenerlass’ (Radicals Decree), a mechanism used to vet civil servants for constitutional loyalty. Observers have noted parallels to previous cases where individuals from different political spectrums, such as Marxists, were denied public service positions based on associations and perceived ideological leanings rather than specific misconduct.