Digital Agreement Advocate of Hamburg Endorses Further Advancements in Digital Sphere - Environmental Minister in Charge
Minister for Education Calls for Continuation of Digital Infrastructure Drive in Lower Saxony
Julia Willie Hamburg, the Education Minister in Lower Saxony, advocates for the implementation of a second edition of the Digital Pact. The minister expressed concern that, despite improvements, many schools in the region are still lagging behind in digital development.
Current statistics show that around 3000 applications are still pending from the initial Digital Pact, which provided substantial funding for German states to improve digital infrastructure in schools. Should the Digital Pact II be relaunched, Lower Saxony alone would benefit from an annual allocation of one billion euros.
In light of the ongoing digitalization process, Minister Hamburg announced that Lower Saxony would introduce a social index for the distribution of funds during this legislative period. This index is presently limited to schools within the 'Start-Chance' program, and its future application could potentially allow for additional personnel or resources to be allocated based on social criteria.
Regarding antisemitism, the minister spoke of possible collaborations with the Protestant Church on jointly awarding a school seal.While the church has historically granted the seal individually, there is an openness to consider its co-awarding and reevaluating ways to honor Holocaust victims by naming schools after them. The final decision will rest locally, and proposals such as a "Margit Friedlaender School" have been well-received as symbols of remembrance.
Minister Hamburg expressed reservations about adopting nationwide uniform summer holidays, as suggested by education associations. Instead, she believes such a measure may create unnecessary traffic congestion and disregards the practical aspects of its implementation.
The minister also expressed optimism about forthcoming PISA study results, expecting the recent initiatives to have long-term positive impacts.
As for the current status of the Digital Pact II in Lower Saxony, no specific information is available as of May 2025. The ongoing digitization trend and supportive financial and policy environment suggest that Lower Saxony, like other states, will continue leveraging existing funds to advance school digitalization. The European Year of Digital Citizenship Education also underscores the broader context of prioritizing digital skills and infrastructure at the EU and member state level.
Vocational training in EC countries could be boosted by adopting similar policies and legislation surrounding digital infrastructure development seen in Lower Saxony, utilizing lessons learned from the ongoing Digital Pact. Political discussions regarding education-and-self-development in general-news could include the potential benefits of vocational training programs in vocational schools equipped with advanced digital technology, such as those planned under the Digital Pact II.
