Group calls for a chaperone for multiple schoolchildren - Government's proposed initiative: A new program unveiled
The current legal and practical framework for group school accompaniment for children with disabilities in Germany is under scrutiny, as several political parties, including the CSU (Christian Social Union), Free Voters, and Greens, are advocating for a change in federal law.
The main motivation behind this push is the perceived inadequacy of the current federal law in supporting group school accompaniment, a service designed to provide necessary assistance to children with disabilities in inclusive school settings. The existing legal provisions are criticised for lacking clarity, resources, and scope, which can lead to unequal educational opportunities and insufficient integration for children with disabilities.
By revising the federal law, these parties aim to establish clearer responsibilities and standards for group accompaniment, guarantee better funding and resources for schools, enhance the quality of education and inclusion for children with disabilities, and address practical challenges faced by educators and aides in group accompaniment roles.
While specific details of the latest policy debates or legislative proposals are not readily available, this push for reform reflects a broader political consensus in Germany emphasizing stronger inclusion and support in education for children with disabilities.
The group school accompaniment model, which is used in both general and special schools, has been successfully tested in the Free State at various locations and has shown to be pedagogically sensible. In fact, the model has been practiced in other states for years.
The applications for group school accompaniment are submitted by guardians and decided by cost bearers such as the district or youth welfare office in collaboration with the schools. The responsible bodies for making decisions on group school accompaniment include the Ministry of Culture.
The goal of implementing the group school accompaniment model is to reduce costs and make it a realistic solution. The "pooling model" is considered a necessary and realistic solution to achieve this goal. This change is being called for in federal law by the three state parliament factions.
Notably, Norbert Dünkel (CSU) has stated that group school accompaniment should be the rule, with individual accompaniment being a justified exception. The three factions argue that the group school accompaniment model should be the norm, with individual accompaniment being a justified exception.
The model of group school accompaniment is less stigmatizing for children, as demonstrated by the model test led by the cross-factional working group and scientifically supported. The significantly increased number of cases and costs for school accompaniment could amount to up to 50,000 euros per year, making the need for cost-saving measures like group school accompaniment more urgent.
In summary, the push by these parties for a change in federal law reflects an intention to modernize and strengthen the framework governing group school accompaniment, making it more effective and equitable for children with disabilities in Germany.
- With a focus on enhancing personal growth and learning opportunities, these political parties aim to implement vocational training programs within the community policy for children with disabilities, as a part of their education-and-self-development.
- The revised federal law, if passed, promises to enhance the quality of education and vocational training for children with disabilities, contributing significantly to their overall development and integration in society.
