Schools Shut Down: No Classes due to Federal State Decision
As Germany grapples with record-breaking temperatures, several federal states have taken steps to protect students and staff in schools. However, heat-related school closures are not yet a standardised policy across the country.
The current heatwave has prompted heat warnings and red alerts in parts of Germany, with temperatures predicted to reach up to 40°C in some areas. In response, schools are implementing protective measures such as providing shade, cooling strategies, and adjusting activities to reduce heat exposure.
Unlike countries like France, where nearly 2,000 schools were shut due to the heat, German responses seem more focused on mitigation measures within schools. Discussions around heat protection also extend to hospitals and public buildings, where a lack of air conditioning has been highlighted as a vulnerability. However, no centralised mandate for school closures due to heat has been noted.
While there is increasing concern about heat stress risks, especially for vulnerable groups like children, official closures would likely depend on local health and weather authorities' advisories and are not uniformly mandated at the federal state level. Some states may implement closures or reduced school hours on an ad hoc basis depending on local heat intensity and infrastructure readiness.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, heat-related school closures for primary schools and grades 5 and 6 can be granted if the classroom temperature is 27 degrees or higher and there is no air conditioning available. Parental consent is required for such closures. This rule does not apply to upper secondary school students.
In contrast, Bavaria has not yet closed schools, with summer holidays starting on August 1st. Other federal states are planning to close schools, starting from July 7th. Some states do not see school closure as sensible everywhere.
Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia have already started their summer holidays. Lower Saxony and Bremen are starting their summer holidays tomorrow. Schools in one federal state have closed due to the high temperatures, but no specific state has been identified in widely reported sources.
It is important to note that there is no entitlement to heat-related school closures or exam exemptions. The school must ensure the safe transportation of children in heat-related school closures.
Many students are delighted about the school closure, while others are eager to continue their studies. The evolving heatwave situation and rising temperatures continue to pose challenges for schools and authorities across Germany.
In the midst of record-breaking temperatures, conversations about heat protection and self-development for children are increasingly pertinent, especially in schools. While some regions like North Rhine-Westphalia have rules for school closure during extreme heat, general news reports remain unclear about which specific state has initiated such measures. Similarly, weather forecasts predict high temperatures that will test the educational infrastructure, making general news headlines and impacting the overall news cycle.
