Gelsenkirchen: Educational Policy in April 2026 – Priorities, Debates and Decisions

Educational Policy in Gelsenkirchen: Priorities for April 2026

Educational policy in Gelsenkirchen is a central area of action that strongly influences both the future of the city and of individuals. In April 2026, several topics came into focus, covering both infrastructural and didactic aspects. The Education Committee met on April 30 in the auditorium of Grundschule An der Gräfte and addressed issues such as school development, private education, building extensions, school courtyards, and digital infrastructure.

Extension of Schalker Gymnasium: Between Planning and Implementation

A central topic was the planned extension of Schalker Gymnasium. A motion by the CDU council group asked about the current status of the planning. The administration explained that, although the extension is necessary due to a need identified in the quality analysis report by the regional administration of Münster, no concrete construction has yet taken place.

The discussions focused on whether a modular construction method could be considered. Modular construction offers advantages such as cost efficiency and quick implementation, which is particularly interesting in times of limited resources and increasing space requirements. The administration has been tasked with conducting a feasibility study and presenting a concrete timeline for planning, tendering, and construction.

The debate highlighted the tension between long-term planning and urgent action needs – a classic issue in educational policy.

School Courtyards and BYOD-WLAN: Infrastructure Issues of Public Interest

Another current topic was the use of school courtyards. Gesamtschule Horst and Grundschule am Schloss Horst will temporarily close their school courtyards on June 20 and 21, 2026, for the medieval event Gaudium. This step is necessary for organizational reasons but raised questions in the discussion about the general use of school courtyards.

Another point of discussion was the shutdown of the BYOD-WLAN network at schools. Some schools reported that the network had been turned off, making it more difficult for students and teachers to use their private devices. The city administration confirmed that a general shutdown had not taken place, but that the permissions for network use can be individually regulated by the schools.

These topics show how sensitive infrastructure issues are in educational policy and how strongly they affect everyday school life.

Reforms in First Aid and School Development Planning

The committee decided to revoke the budget decision “First Aid at Schools” for the 2025 budget. This decision was part of a pilot project intended to enable students to be trained in first aid by volunteers. Since the training of students in layperson resuscitation will be legally mandated starting from the school year 2026/2027, the pilot will not be continued.

In addition, an oral report on school development planning was presented. The planning considers not only space requirements but also the social and educational development of schools. The introduction of ABC classes was mentioned as a further focus. These classes are intended to help children with language or learning method difficulties to orient themselves in the education system.

Outlook: Educational Policy in Gelsenkirchen – Challenges and Opportunities

The discussions in April 2026 show that Gelsenkirchen is working on a constructive and future-oriented educational policy. The focus on infrastructure, digital opportunities, and pedagogical innovations is a positive development. At the same time, challenges such as the increasing need for school space, the equipping of digital infrastructure, and the integration of children with a migration background remain.

The decisions of the Education Committee are an important step toward a more inclusive and flexible educational policy. The implementation of the planned measures will be decisive in ensuring the long-term quality of education in Gelsenkirchen.