Education policy: "We need clear goals in North Rhine-Westphalia"

Education Minister Dorothee Feller was a guest at the WHKT general assembly. There she spoke about the state government's plans. She noted that education policy had often focused on individual issues, but now she wanted to consider the bigger picture.

The high expectations of the skilled trades sector regarding the black-red coalition government, which has been in office since May 2025, have not yet been met. "So far, the major reform initiative has unfortunately failed to materialize. The federal government has recognized the need for action in principle, but the measures it has initiated have had only limited effects. Instead of an autumn of reforms, we have had an autumn of disappointments," explained Berthold Schröder at the spring general assembly of the skilled trades sector. West German Chamber of Crafts (WHKT).

The reform of the welfare state must not be delayed any longer. "We need swift action now," demanded the WHKT president. Following the elections in the states with larger land areas, a window of opportunity opens in which the federal government can initiate necessary reforms. "And I hope that the federal government seizes this opportunity, because our businesses urgently need relief and a future outlook." There is little growth in the skilled trades sector, and businesses are holding back on investments.

Declining order intake and uncertain prospects

According to Schröder, many businesses are reporting declining orders and uncertain economic prospects, coupled with rising costs. "The renewed increase in mineral oil prices also presents new challenges for our tradespeople's vehicle fleets. Against this backdrop, it is an important signal from Economics Minister Reiche that she intends to put a stop to the multiple daily price increases at gas stations." While one shouldn't expect too much from this, it does make the situation somewhat more predictable for tradespeople.

Nevertheless, there are also positive developments, namely "initial signs of recovery" in the construction industry and the sector affected by the pandemic. Federal Cabinet The agreed-upon reduction of bureaucracy must... Federal government Now, these measures must be implemented quickly. Schröder stated: "We really need to pick up the pace here, otherwise many businesses will soon face collapse." The acceleration and relief package passed at the state level also has potential. The announced practical assessment for the skilled trades and hospitality sector is particularly interesting. The WHKT (Westphalian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) is currently coordinating with the state government on this matter, and results are expected before the summer break.

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Schröder calls for improvements to the Master Craftsman's BAföG (student loan program).

Schröder called for changes to the Master Craftsman's Grant (Meister-BAföG). He stated that the application process is incredibly complicated and bureaucratic, thus delaying timely payments. "This urgently needs improvement," he said. He also demanded the implementation of the strengthening of the clearinghouse promised in the coalition agreement. He noted that there has been no discernible progress since mid-2025. The situation is similar, he said, regarding the legal recognition of the equivalence of academic and vocational education. "So far, it looks as if it will come down to a specific law. We have always preferred a constitutional amendment, but we also see a specific law as a viable option," Schröder said.

Another key focus of the meeting was education policy in North Rhine-Westphalia. "We need strategies to achieve significantly better general education at the end of schooling and to make North Rhine-Westphalia one of the top vocational training states in Germany," emphasized Schröder. He stressed that the first ten years of schooling should not only focus on traditional academic skills, but also on greater practical application and relevance to prepare the younger generation for the future.

Clear goals for education policy

Education Minister Dorothee Feller (CDU) reported on the current plans of the State government in education policy. She wants to set a clear direction with the NRW School Compass 2030. The state needs clear goals that extend beyond the current legislative period, Feller said. Up to now, the focus has often been on individual issues, "but the big picture has never been seen." With the compass, the government has now formulated four clear goals: fewer students failing to meet minimum standards, more students achieving optimal standards, strengthening students' social and emotional skills, and more students leaving vocational colleges with promising career prospects.

"All measures we take next year must contribute to these goals," Feller explained. An important aspect is improving basic skills in areas such as reading, writing, arithmetic, and listening. These skills are given special emphasis in the final years of schooling, both in primary and secondary schools. A measure that starts even earlier is the statewide introduction of ABC classes to promote children's language skills in the year before they start school. "We want to prepare young people even before they begin first grade. This is a major step for North Rhine-Westphalia." Too many children are not yet ready for school when they start first grade.

Schools should work in a more evidence-based manner.

"A second major step that will change our school system, one that isn't as readily apparent to the public because it's somewhat more difficult to explain than an ABC class, is the issue of data-driven quality." Schools are to work "much more evidence-based." "And that's why we will begin with a learning assessment in the fifth grade. Nationwide learning assessments already exist in the third and eighth grades. In the future, there will also be such assessments in the second and seventh grades." This will allow schools to track students' progress, see how their skills are developing, and then take targeted action.

"School supervisory authorities should advise schools even more closely than before, always based on data-driven quality development derived from learning assessments." Students should also have the opportunity to provide feedback. This is already being piloted and will be made mandatory for schools after an evaluation. Regarding digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI), there is a need for improvement in North Rhine-Westphalian schools. Feller mentioned AI tools for teachers and AI agents for students, which could enhance teaching and learning outcomes.

WHKT signs cooperation agreement

The state government also wants to better integrate schools and businesses. The "fit for life" initiative aims to bring experts from various professions together with students and foster an understanding of the professional world from an early age. This allows practitioners to share their experiences and provide insights into the world of work. The "LifeTeachUs" app also addresses this need. The platform connects volunteers and schools to mitigate the impact of canceled classes and better integrate practical life skills into the school day. Ludwig Thiede, the app's developer, presented its features and signed a cooperation agreement with the Westphalian Chamber of Skilled Crafts (WHKT).

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