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The Ministry of Education has closed the »Freie Dorfschule Lübeck«, in which around 50 children and young people are enrolled, with immediate effect. The substitute school permit was revoked by letter dated May 19, the ministry said. According to its own information, the authority has received more and more indications since the beginning of the 2022/23 school year that there could be serious deficits in school operations at the school.

As a result, there were several unannounced school exams in February and March of this year, during which, among other things, it was found that less than half of the registered students were regularly present on site. In addition, there were regularly only two teachers, although according to the plan more educators should have been on duty.

According to the ministry, the school was founded in 2015 as a school with a so-called "Waldorf-related village school concept".

»Accumulation of inconsistencies«

"This accumulation of inconsistencies has prompted our ministry to revoke the school's approval," said Education Minister Karin Prien (CDU). The suspicion arises that parents have registered their children at this school in order to circumvent compulsory schooling.

The school denied the allegations and says it wants to take legal action against the closure.

lmd/dpa