Berlin’s governing mayor, Kai Wegner of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is pushing for a significant overhaul of Germany’s education system, advocating for the revocation of the constitutionally enshrined cooperation ban (“Kooperationsverbot”) to standardize school types across the nation. Wegner, in comments to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, argues that Germany’s federal structure has become an impediment to modernization, particularly within the realm of education.
The move, framed as part of a broader initiative by the federal government and state governments to reduce bureaucracy and streamline state functions, risks sparking a contentious debate over the balance of power between Berlin and the individual states. Wegner believes a new Federalism Commission and subsequent reforms are urgently needed to address what he sees as an outdated system. “The current cooperation ban. I consider it incorrect” he stated, explicitly calling for the unification of school types, a proposal likely to face resistance from states fiercely protective of their educational autonomy.
While Wegner acknowledges the value of inter-state competition in education, he insists on establishing a unified framework. He highlighted the growing demand for flexibility amongst German workers, juxtaposing it with the difficulties families face when relocating between states due to differing educational structures. Wegner cited the challenges families encounter when transferring children from Berlin’s “integrated secondary schools” which are non-existent in states like Baden-Württemberg, as a concrete example of the problems stemming from a decentralized system.
The “Kooperationsverbot” a long-standing element of German governance, traditionally limits the federal government’s ability to influence state-level education policy. While its efficacy has been periodically questioned, Wegner appears to be utilizing the current modernization drive as leverage to challenge this entrenched legal constraint.
Notably, this contentious issue is scheduled for discussion at the upcoming conference of state premiers alongside Chancellor Friedrich Merz on December 4th. Proposals reportedly include consolidating certain responsibilities, either at the federal level or within individual states. Wegner specifically pointed to digitalization as an area where a unified framework, centrally managed by the federal government, is deemed essential, suggesting a potential transfer of authority from the states. Critics, however, are likely to view this centralization as an overreach by the federal government, potentially undermining the states’ ability to tailor education to local needs and values.
