Digital Pact : countries often do not know which school has Wi-Fi News

For years, the schools in Germany are waiting, now it's finally here: The billion-dollar digital Pact can come to the necessary amendment to the basic law adopted on Friday, the final hurdle in the Bundesrat. Many schools need the funds urgently, the studies show. Also, who is unwavering in the belief among education experts about the IT equipment in German schools, often hair-raising stories told. Since the talk is about schools, in which only one class on the Internet can go, because everything else would collapse.

But how, exactly, the location is spot on, States and municipalities prepared for the digital Pact? "We have, nationwide, a very heterogeneous picture," says Marja-Liisa völler's, Chairwoman of the SPD parliamentary group for digital education. The start, that some municipalities are preparing to others will not have already been able with their own resources, the IT Development in their schools.

The pressure from the municipalities to the Länder to enable the disbursement of the funds, is völler's' impression is enormous: "I've already gotten in the last autumn, angry phone calls from mayors, why does it take with the digital Pact for so long."

the differences between The countries are already on the question is large, whether you have a Overview of the IT equipment in their schools. Some States, such as Schleswig-Holstein are familiar with the Status Quo. 2018 had increased in the local schools, the proportion of fast Internet connections to 51.3 percent, down from 29.7 percent two years earlier. 77 percent had at least in some areas, over Wi-Fi.

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lower Saxony conducted in preparation for the digital Pact 2017/18, an IT survey of the General image through the schools. At 30 percent, there are Wi-Fi in every classroom. However, only six per cent had a connection with so much volume of data, that in fact, all classes could simultaneously use the Internet: As reported, the result of a Bitkom study, that teachers want to use digital media, but due to poor equipment can not.

The Berlin districts have no Overview

In Berlin, it is currently impossible to get an Overview: it is Known neither how many schools are equipped with broadband connection, such as the Wlan coverage is ordered. The extent of the information deficit was recently become by a request of the Berlin FDP-education experts Paul Fresdorf known: Only individual districts were able to report that their schools were supplied with a broadband connection. It was added that it was only "adequate", but not "powerful" connections. Other school offices are not answered at all questions on Fresdorfs. For the district center is about education councillor Carsten Spallek (CDU) asked for understanding: The school building offensive bind all the forces in the nearly-appointed to the school.

"We need more staff for digitisation"

"We need to increase the staff," therefore, is for the green education expert Stefanie Remlinger. Those who believe that the digitization crazy let along the way. Rather, the school needed a staff that could take care of the digital infrastructure. "The digitization could contribute to the discharge of the teacher. It is a pity that this discharge is delayed due to the lack of requirements," says Remlinger.

This is also necessary, because it is in connection with the digital Pact new responsibilities to the districts: "The districts create an IT development concept for the schools in your Region," reads the announcement of the education administration. This concept would have to include an inventory "of existing and required facilities with respect to the proposed funding subject", as well as an inventory of the current Internet connection. But that is not all. The districts are in the digital Pact "applicant". This means that you get the money from the digital Pact, "investment planning, including a concept to provide status of operation, maintenance, and IT Support" that describes the education authority for further action.

Berlin wants to create the fiber connection

The digital Pact was on Thursday the topic in the education Committee of the house of representatives. State Secretary for education, Mark Rackles (SPD) reported that the country is level, the optical fibre connection of the vocational centres is to drive forward. For the further Expansion of Neukölln should be the model district, announced Rackles. "No Berlin school of optical fiber is currently," explained the spokesperson for the education authority. This must be changed in order to meet the funding guidelines of the Federal Ministry of transport. On Friday want to comment on the administration of education for use of the digital Pact.

In a different output location is Hamburg, Germany: unlike in Berlin, there is no two-stage management. This means that districts and the country can not push each other's responsibility. The Board of education of Senator Ties Rabe (SPD) announced to request that you will give on Monday with an Overview of the conditions in the schools in terms of digital Pact and also want to explain how you want the digital Pact spend millions.

No country wide statistics can call Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia on request. In Baden-Württemberg it is not starting but in the case of Zero, a spokeswoman said. In March there was a discussion with the local authorities, to the requirements. NRW refers to the fact that the IT equipment is a matter for the school to be the carrier, here too, the digital Pact will be prepared. Similarly, the Ministry of culture exchanges in Saxony is currently with the local authorities.

warning of a "funding maze"

The Overview is even more important than that of the digital Pact promotes all of the measures. Mainly with the means of the Wlan coverage and the networking within the school building are to be paid. Laptops or other devices can receive, however, schools will only be limited under certain conditions. Not at all, the connection of the school building to the public broadband network - so the connection from the basement to the road is funded. Another program from the Ministry of transport is responsible. In addition, schools could pay for a modern wiring also from the resources of the school renovation program, if you need to have to be redeveloped.

From a "funding jungle" speaks Katja Suding, Deputy FPD-group Chairman in the Bundestag and responsible for education: "This is a disaster for communities."

The FDP calls for a digital Pact 2.0

And even if the IT infrastructure in all schools should eventually be a guarantee for digital teaching, this is not for a long time. Because there are problems that remain Suding criticized: Who is funding digital learning resources, who is IT administrators? What is your privacy policy?

Suding knows of a case in which a headmaster should be a 120-page privacy statement signed before his school is using a digital learning tool: "I can understand every school has pain to the belly." Teachers would be in a grey area, in which you can make quickly is a punishable offence. The FDP calls, therefore, on a digital Pact 2.0, which takes into account all of these points: "We must remain in the technical aspects are not," says Suding.