Change of course in Bavaria: Tablets only from Year 8

The Bavarian government made up of the CSU and Free Voters has rowed back on the issue of tablets from the fifth grade. As Minister-President Markus Söder (CSU) announced during a two-day cabinet meeting, the government wants to uphold “classic educational ideals” in Bavaria and only promote digital learning tools for use in the classroom once writing, reading and handwriting have been sufficiently trained. The coalition agreement from 2023 and the cabinet resolutions from 2024 had previously taken a completely different direction.

Successful pilot test

According to the coalition agreement (PDF), Bavaria wanted to “continue to vigorously promote the digital school and digital teaching of tomorrow.” A clear roadmap was also formulated there: “By 2028 at the latest, all pupils from Year 5 onwards are to be successively equipped with digital end devices. We are providing funds to subsidize the procurement of mobile devices by parents/guardians at secondary general schools.” In February 2024, the cabinet passed a corresponding resolution. A successful pilot trial had shown that lessons had been “innovatively developed” with the help of mobile devices, “media skills were promoted and school and home learning were interlinked”.

The turnaround is now being placed under the heading “the younger, the less digital, the more traditional” and fits in with the current sometimes polarizing debates on digital devices and offerings in the school environment. Minister-President Söder explained that the proposal was put forward by Education Minister Anna Stolz (Free Voters). She told Bayrischer Rundfunk radio that there should be “even more moderation in digital education” in Bavaria's schools in the future than before. Digital education always needs educational added value and targeted and responsible use. Especially in the first years of school, the acquisition of analog skills is crucial. Minister-President Söder also attributed the change of course to developments abroad. Sweden, for example, has been returning to textbooks and exercise books in elementary school since mid-2023.

From Year 8, with exceptions earlier

As a rule, there should now be 1:1 equipment from the 8th grade, schools that place a special focus on teaching digital skills could also start in the 7th grade. In elementary school and in the 5th and 6th grades, a gradual introduction is planned. It should still be possible to use school loan devices for this purpose. There are currently said to be around 140,000 mobile devices in elementary school. There should be 450,000 in the entire school system.

(kbe)