© dpa
Due to a lack of space at regular schools in Berlin, hundreds of young refugees are now to be taught directly in the large accommodation centers in Tegel and Tempelhof.
Education Senator Katharina Günther-Wünsch announced after a Senate meeting on Tuesday that welcome classes would be set up for these young refugee students.
"We are currently not fulfilling our constitutional obligation to grant refugee children and young people the right to education," said the CDU politician. The establishment of welcome classes at central locations is therefore an important step towards preparing young immigrants for attending a regular school. According to the Senator, around 560 school-age children and teenagers are currently housed in the accommodation at the former Tegel Airport, which largely consists of lightweight halls. In the accommodation at the former Tempelhof Airport, there are currently significantly fewer at 20 to 30.
According to Günther-Wünsch, the plan is to initially set up 288 school places in Tegel and start teaching this year. The plan is to increase the number of places to a good 430 by the middle of next year. The Senate Department for Education is also considering rooms in the former Air Berlin building on Saatwinkler Damm.
The first interviews with 50 teachers - newcomers as well as those already teaching in welcome classes at Berlin schools - are to take place near future. The plan is to also employ teachers with foreign qualifications - starting with specialists from Ukraine in tandem with experienced German colleagues.
According to the Senator for Education, there are currently around 900 school-age refugees on waiting lists in Berlin because the districts are unable to offer them a place in school. She stated that the aims of the central services in the refugee accommodation centers are to provide children and young people with a proper education, to teach them the German language and to provide them with vocational guidance. "Nevertheless, it is important to emphasize: These offers are not a long-term solution, but necessary measures to temporarily care for, educate and integrate underage refugees."
Legally, the welcome classes in the refugee shelters will have the status of a branch location of a centrally administered school. According to Günther-Wünsch, the plan is to cooperate with regular schools as well as with clubs and independent organizations for offers such as sports activities or the use of specialist rooms for art, music and science.