Senate adopts new rules for independent schools

The Berlin Senate has adopted new rules for independent schools.

With the reform, which is now being discussed further in the House of Representatives, newly founded independent schools will receive state subsidies after just two years instead of the previous five years. A binding table based on income will be created for the amount of school fees. This should give families with lower incomes better opportunities to choose the right school for their child.

Better access to private schools

According to Education Senator Katharina Günther-Wünsch (CDU), this also applies to parents of children with special needs. They are to be given better access to private schools. However, there is no change to the so-called basic funding, according to which the state covers 93 percent of the costs of independent schools. Günther-Wünsch justified this with Berlin's tight budget situation.

170 independent providers in Berlin

According to the education administration, 170 independent providers run general public schools in Berlin with just under 42,000 pupils. In addition, there are 48 vocational schools with just under 14,000 pupils. This means that a total of twelve percent of Berlin's entire student body attends such non-state institutions. "Independent schools make a decisive contribution to the diversity and strength of our education system," said Günther-Wünsch.