SchulSachsenSofa: Justice in the education system - The issues of the future!

SchulSachsenSofa: Justice in the education system - The issues of the future!

On June 16, 2025, an important event for Saxon school policy took place in the Großenhain vocational school center: the first SchulSachsenSofa. This event was dedicated to discussing a central question: “Justice in the education system?” Numerous experts from education and politics took part, including the Saxon Minister of Education Conrad Clemens, the educational scientist Prof. Dr. Anke Langner from the University School Dresden and the school social worker Christian Ruffert from the St. Benno-Gymnasium Dresden. The discussion was moderated by Maxi Konang and committed students who brought fresh perspectives.

Many topics relating to education in Saxony were discussed in the discussions. It was found that education is intended to promote and strengthen, but is often perceived as stressful. The participants discussed aspects such as grade pressure, exam anxiety and the rigid assessment systems that put pressure not only on the students but also on the teachers. A central point was also the acute shortage of teachers, which is noticeable in Saxony, as well as the high demands placed on teachers. These challenges should not be underestimated as they directly impact the quality of education that students receive.

Current challenges in the education system

The INSM Education Monitor 2024, which provides an overview of the strengths and weaknesses in the German education system, shows that despite the positive feedback on Saxony, challenges still exist. Although Saxony defends its first place in the education monitor, which is carried out by the New Social Market Economy Initiative (INSM), the declines in the areas of school quality and educational poverty are alarming. In particular, the loss of skills among students with a migrant background is a cause for concern. Educational equity is an important goal that should be supported through targeted support measures such as the Starting Opportunities Program in order to noticeably improve integration and school quality.

The high level of use of all-day offers in Saxony is encouraging. 93.6% of primary school students and 89.3% of secondary school students now attend all-day schools. In addition, the proportion of care for three to six year olds is an impressive 81.9%, which is above the national average. Nevertheless, there is a need for improvement in time efficiency and care conditions, where Saxony lags somewhat behind the national average. Here, the education monitor shows that Saxony ranks 14th in time efficiency and 13th in terms of care conditions.

Perspectives for the future

Despite the challenges, there are also promising approaches to further optimize the education system in Saxony. The investment rates at universities and the high reading skills among young people in the ninth grade give hope. In addition, the low connection between social background and educational success is a positive sign. For the future, special measures should be taken to strengthen digital education and infrastructure, as digital skills are of great importance for learners.

The experts' discussion was recorded and will be broadcast on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 8 p.m. on Sachsen Fernsehen and Sachsen Eins. If you missed the exciting discussions, you can also watch the discussion online at www.sachsensofa.de Take a look and get your own idea of ​​the challenges and solutions in the Saxon education system.

You can find more information about the INSM education monitor on the website Diocese of Dresden-Meissen or in the Saxon education database.