Youth Participation and School Development in Aachen: A Focus on Educational Policy in the Second Quarter of 2026

A New Participation Format: The Youth Council in Aachen

In the second quarter of 2026, the Committee for Education and Further Training decided to establish a youth council for the city of Aachen in accordance with § 27a of the North Rhine-Westphalia Municipal Code. The youth council is designed as a supplement to existing formats of youth participation and aims to directly involve young people aged 11 to 15 in shaping their living environment.

The structure of the youth council provides for 24 regular and 10 advisory members who serve on a voluntary basis. The work is supported by a half-time position in the Department of Citizen Participation and Volunteering as well as a project management position. The objective is to integrate youth perspectives into political bodies, develop initiatives, and convey democratic education in practice.

Nevertheless, the discussion around the role of the youth council remains controversial. Critics point out that the youth council only has the right to speak but not to submit motions and could therefore be less politically influential than intended. In addition, the potential competition with the existing district student representative body (BSV) is being discussed. Nevertheless, a pilot phase of two years is planned, with a digital election in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Budget Freeze and Cuts in the Education Sector

The financial situation of the city of Aachen had noticeable effects in the field of education and further training in the second quarter of 2026. A status report in the Committee for Education and Further Training showed that consolidation measures are necessary to ensure financial stability until 2027 and beyond.

Cuts affect, for example, class trips for disadvantaged children, which have been reduced to 30%, and holiday activities, where 10% of the funds have been cut. The reimbursement of student travel costs, particularly for internships, was also discussed.

Another topic was the inclusion allowance, which is being allocated for the school year 2026/2027. The funds flow, among other things, into the model project KOBSI (systemic school support) at seven schools. However, due to cuts in state funding, job losses in school social work are looming. Politics is calling for solutions to continue systemic school support, as it is considered more cost-effective than individual support.

Digitalization of Student Travel Cost Applications

Another milestone in the education sector was the introduction of the digital "Student Travel Cost Portal Online" in Aachen. Starting on April 15, 2026, the portal enables a fully digital application and processing of student travel costs. Citizens can submit applications around the clock via the city's service portal, making the process more efficient and citizen-friendly.

The software solution "Student Travel Costs Online" by regio IT has already been tested in other cities and offers intelligent route calculations, automated decisions, and a BUND-ID-based registration. The digitalization reduces administrative effort and minimizes error-proneness. However, the communication about the analog application process was inadequate, leading to confusion among parents.

School Construction Measures and Relocations

In the context of school construction measures, progress was reported at secondary schools in connection with the return to G9. In particular, the construction measures at the Karl-Kuck School and the GGS Richterich were in the focus. While the Karl-Kuck School already had a site meeting and constructive discussions, the GGS Richterich will be relocated to the premises of the former secondary school Kronenberg during the construction phase. A shuttle service for students has been set up, as the installation of containers in the surrounding area is not possible.

Right to Open Full-Time Schools

The right to Open Full-Time Schools (OGS) will come into force on August 1, 2026. In Aachen, the right will be implemented gradually, with the city as the provider of public youth welfare being responsible. The Committee for Education and Further Training decides on the payment from the special fund OGS to independent providers to compensate for shortcomings in care.

The prioritization of care places is based on criteria such as the employment status of parents, single-parent families, and socially disadvantaged cases. The implementation of the right to care will require close cooperation between schools and youth welfare, with recommendations for communication and cooperation being developed.

Previous Developments

In February 2026, the city of Aachen made important decisions for mobility and transport planning, including the budget planning until 2029, construction measures such as the renovation of the Theaterplatz and the expansion of sharing offers to combat mobility poverty.

In April 2026, Aachen dealt with measures to improve mobility, among them a modern parking guidance system, new Park-and-Ride offers, barrier-free public transport stops and permanent school street projects to shape traffic situations and infrastructure for the future.

Outlook and Challenges

The developments in the education sector in Aachen in the second quarter of 2026 show a clear trend: The city is focusing on greater involvement of young people, digitalization and investments in infrastructure. At the same time, the financial situation remains critical, leading to cuts and realignments.

The youth council, the digitalization of student travel cost applications and the implementation of the right to Open Full-Time Schools are central measures that will shape the education sector in the coming months. The challenge is to maintain the balance between participation, consolidation and investment – a task that will test politics and administration in the coming quarters.