Minister: Separate Classes for Struggling Learners to Stay - Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Election Could Reshape Special Needs Education Forever
The future of special needs schools in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (MV) has become a key issue ahead of the state election. Politicians and educators are debating whether to keep these schools or shift more students into mainstream classrooms. The upcoming vote is now seen as a turning point for how children with learning disabilities will be taught in the region.
Currently, over 3,300 pupils attend special needs schools in MV, while around 1,500 are enrolled in regular classes with support. But clear nationwide figures on how many students with learning disabilities receive individual help in mainstream schools remain unavailable, leaving gaps in the debate.
The state government is revising its inclusion strategy, aiming to merge special needs schools with other school types by 2035. Despite this long-term plan, separate special needs classes will still exist, and parents will keep the right to choose between integrated and separate education.
Changes are already underway. Special needs schools will soon offer English and computer science, while mainstream schools will boost support for at-risk students. The education minister also wants to improve outcomes for pupils with learning difficulties, pushing for more graduates to achieve at least a Hauptschule diploma.
Yet the reforms face opposition. The CDU, AfD, and FDP argue that special needs schools must be preserved, warning that integration could leave some students without adequate support. Teachers and parents remain divided on the best approach, with some backing inclusion and others insisting that specialised schools provide better tailored education.
The lack of precise data complicates the discussion. While MV tracks its own numbers, no nationwide statistics exist on how many children with learning disabilities attend regular classes with individual support. This makes it harder to compare the state's approach with others or measure the success of inclusion efforts.
The election in MV will shape how the state educates children with learning disabilities in the coming years. If the current plan moves forward, special needs schools will gradually merge with mainstream education while keeping some separate classes. The outcome will determine whether more students shift into regular schools—or whether specialised support remains the priority.
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