Essen Approves Comprehensive 'School as a Safe Place' Concept
Essen's city council has approved a comprehensive 'School as a Safe Place' concept, aiming to enhance school safety. The committee for school, education, and science recommended initial measures on 10.09.2025, with the council set to decide on implementation in its September session.
The concept includes optimizing external signage for better emergency service orientation, initially for 14 locations. Structural-technical measures involve equipping doors with lock cylinders for quick locking in case of danger, benefiting 682 doors across 14 schools. These measures are estimated to cost around 147,400 euros in the pilot phase.
Preventive-pedagogical measures focus on teacher training in violence prevention programs, with around 20 teachers trained per school across 21 institutions. The total cost for these measures is approximately 258,600 euros. Additionally, a theater-pedagogical program, 'My Body Belongs to Me', will be comprehensively funded for all third-grade classes at elementary and special schools to prevent sexualized violence.
The effectiveness of these measures will be evaluated annually, with potential additional measures like alarm systems or visual protection elements under consideration. Further details can be found in documents Vorlage 1100/2025/4 and Vorlage 0513/2025/4.
Essen's 'School as a Safe Place' concept, approved by the city council, combines structural, technical, and pedagogical measures to boost school safety. With an initial focus on 14 locations and 21 schools, the council is expected to decide on implementation in its September session. The concept's effectiveness will be regularly reviewed to ensure its success and potential expansion.
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