Teachers in Berlin are assigned designated contacts in cases of discrimination. (Photo - illustration)
© dpa
Following widespread criticism of previous practices, teachers at Berlin schools will now have a central complaints office to turn to in cases of discrimination.
According to the education authorities, it will also be responsible for other employees in the school system. "The aim is to create a standardized procedure for the future," said Education Senator Katharina Günther-Wünsch.
First, there should be an initial discussion with those who have filed a complaint. Once the proceedings have begun, the accused person should also be interviewed and, if necessary, witnesses should be heard. In consultation with the teacher who contacted the complaints office, measures can be agreed upon, which the administrative authority should then implement.
It should be explicitly external and independent. Teachers who wish to complain about experiences of discrimination are given the opportunity to talk to experts who are not part of the school management, school supervisory authority, or education administration. There are three contact persons: Ute Lehmann was head of the school supervisory authority in Spandau for several years and works as an external consultant for schools and school supervisory authorities. Meinhard Jacobs was head of the school supervisory authority in Neukölln for many years and is a member of the advisory board of the contact point for protection against discrimination in schools. Dietrich Kruse was a school principal in Berlin and worked in further training for school principals for several years.
The aim is to provide initial feedback on a complaint within a week, Jacobs said. However, the length of the entire process depends on many factors. Once the process is complete, the teacher will have the opportunity to provide feedback. A feedback form is currently being developed for this purpose. If the teacher indicates that the measures have been implemented to their satisfaction, the case will be closed. Complaints can be submitted to the office immediately.
The work of the complaints office is to be evaluated after a year, as announced by the Senator for Education. Among other things, an assessment will be made of how many complaints are received by the three contact persons and how well the work can be done. If necessary, the complaints office will have to be expanded.