Coalition agreement: Digital Pact 2.0 to come

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The coalition agreement between the CDU, SPD and CSU confirms the introduction of a Digital Pact 2.0. However, it remains to be seen how much money will actually flow into it.
While in many other areas of the coalition agreement, at least an approximate volume in the billions is stated, this remains unnamed in the education sector.

Hardly surprisingly, the coalition agreement between the CDU, SPD and CSU is committed to federalism in education, but also wants to achieve better cooperation and greater comparability in the education system.
This goal is ongoing at the federal level. The aim is to "make cooperation more efficient". The federal, state and local authorities should also come together and "agree on constructive cooperation".

Measurable educational goals, educational history register and pupil ID

It was also formulated that the federal and state governments should "agree on relevant and measurable educational goals for the next decade". There should also be data-supported school development and an education history register should be created. The aim is to gain a better understanding of how educational biographies in Germany develop and, for example, at which forks in the road drop-outs or advancements are typical, or are promoted or prevented by existing systems.

Furthermore, a "data protection-compliant pupil ID" that is compatible between the federal states is to be introduced. The coalition partners also want to make it possible to link this with the citizen ID.

Little concrete information on the Digital Pact 2.0

With the Digital Pact 2.0, the continuation of which was promised in December 2024 under the remaining
the digital infrastructure is to be further expanded, but "reliable administration" is also mentioned. It would be interesting to see what exactly the coalition envisages by this. Will funding for IT administration be made permanent and decoupled from digital pacts? The Digital Pact 2.0 also states: "We are advancing application-oriented teacher training, digitization-related school and lesson development, self-adaptive, AI-supported learning systems and digitally supported substitution concepts." Here, too, more detailed explanations of the individual points would have been interesting.

At least two statements are reasonably specific: the billing period for "cross-state measures that have already begun" will be extended "by two years". And children in need will probably continue to be provided with devices. There may also be some hope for dilapidated school buildings. There is to be an investment program "to support the renovation and maintenance of schools and the creation of new capacities." However, it remains unclear how much money will be available for this.

Last but not least, the current smartphone debate in schools is also included in the coalition agreement, as it is also about psychosocial difficulties, possible loss of concentration in lessons and disruptions to everyday school life. "We will scientifically evaluate the effects of screen time and social media use as quickly as possible and develop a package of measures to strengthen health and youth media protection." A critical assessment could lead to overarching rules that place greater restrictions on the private use of smartphones in educational institutions.

Digital education for the public

In their agreement, the new coalition partners emphasize that the critical use of digital tools and media increases society's resilience and competitiveness, and that this is not just an issue for young people. This is why a "cross-age digital skills offensive" is being launched. With the help of start-ups, businesses, public education providers and social organizations, "innovative and sustainable offers for all population groups" are to be created. A federal center for digital education, as called for by Bitkom during the coalition negotiations, is not included in these statements.

The governing parties also promise digital participation for all and a strengthening of accessibility. In order to achieve better participation in social life for adolescents, children are to be given unbureaucratic access to special school offers as well as sports, music, cultural and other leisure activities via a participation app. In the STEM sector, the coalition wants to expand early STEM education and the "Jugend forscht" competition.

(kbe)