Representatives argue these efforts, while commendable, address symptoms rather than the core issue of inadequate funding and upkeep
The Verband Bildung und Erziehung (VBE) emphasized that teaching staff should be focused solely on education, stating that tasks like cleaning, painting and waste disposal detract from their primary purpose They deem consistent savings on cleaning and maintenance a detrimental depletion of school resources
Leaders of the Philologenverband echoed these concerns, highlighting a persistent state of disrepair attributed, in part, to the financial strain faced by many municipalities They suggest greater federal involvement is necessary to ensure equitable educational opportunities nationwide
The Bundesschülerkonferenz reported a widespread “backlog of necessary repairs” stressing that educators and students should dedicate their time entirely to instruction, not facility upkeep
According to the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), the nationwide backlog of school renovations and investments currently stands at approximately 68 billion euros-and is projected to continue increasing Calls are mounting for a comprehensive national investment program to address the escalating situation and improve conditions in schools across the country
