According to a survey, complicated funding procedures and staff shortages are major obstacles in the digitization of schools in Germany. In May, the German Institute for Urban Studies surveyed 266 municipalities and districts on behalf of the Reconstruction Loan Corporation (KfW). More than half (53 percent) counted “personnel bottlenecks in the specialist administration” and a “complicated application process” as the main reasons for the slow outflow of funds from the digital pact for schools. For 50 percent of the municipalities, this also includes “delivery bottlenecks for digital equipment”.
The study will be published this Thursday and was available to the German Press Agency in advance.
Most recently, it became known that two years after the start of the digital pact for schools - a 6.5 billion euro federal funding program - only 852 million euros had been accessed on June 30th.
By this date, the federal states had applied for and approved, but not yet withdrawn, around 1.4 billion euros.
The application process was repeatedly criticized as being too complicated.
Almost all municipalities see a permanent need for investment
The KfW survey also shows, however, that there is movement: In more than two thirds of the municipalities and districts, essential digitization measures have now been implemented or work and acquisition have begun.
This involves broadband connections, cabling in the school, school's own WiFi or interactive boards.
78 percent stated that they had procured digital devices, i.e. laptops or tablets, or had started procurement.
Almost all municipalities (more than 90 percent) see a permanent need for investment in the area of school digitization, but also consider additional funding and grants to be necessary.
Education unions have long been calling for the digital pact for schools, which actually only runs until 2024, to be "consolidated" into a permanent funding program.