About 62,000 new school seats through school construction initiative

During the celebration marking the 10th anniversary of the Berlin School Construction Initiative at the new Heinrich-Hertz-Gymnasium building, students from various Berlin schools held up a banner reading “10 Jahre Berliner Schulbauoffensive” (“10 Years of the Berlin School Construction Initiative.”)

Ten years after the launch of Berlin's school construction initiative, the Berlin Senate has given the program a positive assessment.

According to the education authorities, approximately 62,000 new school seats were created, and a total of more than seven billion euros was invested. Forty-one new school buildings and 76 new gyms were constructed, and numerous facilities were expanded and renovated. This was celebrated this morning in the new building of the Heinrich-Hertz-Gymnasium in Friedrichshain.

“We want schools that are up to date”

Senator for Education Katharina Günther-Wünsch stated: “We want schools that are in step with the times—places where children and young people can learn and develop to the best of their ability, and where educators find good conditions for their demanding work.” The senator added: “This includes modern learning environments as well as quality full-day programs, inclusion, physical activity, and spaces for interaction and collaboration.”

Student Enrollment at Record Levels

The school construction initiative began ten years ago, in the 2016–2017 school year. The number of students in Berlin continues to rise. Just at the start of the school year last week, a record number of nearly 405,000 students was reported. Berlin intends to continue pushing forward with the initiative. In the future, the focus will not only be on new schools and additions, but also, to a greater extent, on renovating existing buildings.