Members of Germany’s Left Party are advocating for the complete provision of free school learning materials for all students, arguing that access to education should not be determined by socioeconomic status.
Nicole Gohlke, Deputy Parliamentary Group Leader and spokesperson for Education and Science, stated the party believes education is a public good and a fundamental right, therefore, funding should come from collective resources. She called for an end to the financial burden placed on parents, proposing a nationwide, comprehensive system of free learning materials, regardless of location or family income. Gohlke emphasized that providing equal opportunities begins with access to textbooks and other essential learning resources.
Party leader Jan van Aken highlighted the increasing cost of schoolbooks, characterizing it as unacceptable that access to these materials remains tied to parental income in one of the world’s wealthiest nations. He warned that maintaining such a system disadvantages children from lower-income families from the outset. Van Aken described this situation as socially unjust, inequitable and a failure of political leadership. The party proposes a system where all students have equal access to the tools they need to succeed, irrespective of their background.
