There were considerable fears, especially at the universities, that after the tormenting Corona semesters of digital teaching, another online semester could be announced due to the energy crisis.

But it shouldn't come to that.

The federal states and the Federal Network Agency have jointly reaffirmed the special importance of education in times of the energy crisis.

Heike Schmoll

Political correspondent in Berlin, responsible for “Bildungswelten”.

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The President of the Federal Network Agency, Klaus Müller, confirmed to the ministers that ensuring face-to-face classes and teaching is also a top priority from the Federal Network Agency's point of view and schools, colleges and universities as "protected customers" within the meaning of the Energy Industry Act, the Gas Network Access Ordinance and the SoS Ordinance on to ensure a secure gas supply.

Müller appealed to all those involved to make their contribution through greater savings efforts.

The President of the Conference of Ministers of Education (KMK), Schleswig-Holstein's Education Minister Karin Prien (CDU) pointed out that face-to-face teaching and face-to-face classes are indispensable after the experiences from the pandemic.

The KMK now expects the federal government to clearly and unequivocally commit to this.

Because schools are part of the critical infrastructure, as the Federal Constitutional Court confirmed in November last year.

Efficient use of energy and protection against infection

Universities, university clinics and research institutions have already made a special contribution to saving energy and avoiding a gas shortage.

"The Conference of Ministers of Education supports a cross-state exchange on the updating and implementation of emergency plans for possible criteria-based scenarios with regard to a possible impairment of the supply of gas and electricity."

In view of the enormous problems caused by increased energy costs, the federal states want to examine possibilities for compensation and also advocate relief measures in talks with the federal government.

Together with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the ministers want to discuss support for students in need.

They are also “protected customers”.

The federal and state governments are convinced that schools must be exempted from the obligation to comply with certain maximum room temperature values ​​in the "Ordinance for securing the energy supply on short-term effective measures".

Specifically, everyday school life will be about reconciling efficient energy use with infection control.

According to a statement by the KMK, the regular ventilation of rooms is particularly important from both a medical and an energy perspective.

By taking on the task of raising awareness of issues relating to the resource-conserving use of energy and water, the school made a significant contribution to savings by the teachers, together with the pupils and legal guardians, as well as the entire school community.

Hamburg's school senator and coordinator of the Social Democratic-governed countries Ties Rabe (SPD) said that nobody should sit in class with gloves and winter jackets.

The coordinator of the Union-governed countries at the science ministers, Bavaria's Science Minister Markus Blume (CSU), said research is the engine for energy sovereignty and climate neutrality.

For this very reason, the energy crisis must not become a crisis of progress.