Educational Policy in Herten: What Happened in February 2026

Education in Herten: February 2026 – Expansion, Inclusion, and Infrastructure

Educational policy in Herten has clearly moved forward in February 2026. In the 27th session of the Committee for Education, Culture, and Sports, several landmark decisions were made that will have a lasting influence on both the infrastructure and the daily pedagogical life in Herten schools. Particularly noteworthy are the new construction of the Rosa Parks School, the expansion of Open Full-Time Schools, and the inclusion model project. These decisions reflect the challenges arising from demographic changes, migration, and increasing demands on the educational landscape.

Rosa Parks School: A Future-Oriented New Construction

The most impressive decision of the session was the approval of the program decision for the new construction of the Rosa Parks School. With a total cost of approximately 100 million euros (gross), the school will be rebuilt from 2026 to 2032. The campus will not only include modern classrooms but also a four-field sports hall that can accommodate up to 1,000 spectators and is equipped to ProA standards.

The school will be designed as a full-time school with integrated leisure and learning areas. Particularly noteworthy is the pedagogical concept that includes cooperation with extracurricular partners and flexible learning formats. A "FLEX room" per cluster will enable individual support and differentiation. In addition, the school is planned as a central event location for the Herten district – from the cafeteria to the forum, everything is thought through and future-ready.

The sports hall will not only be used for school sports but also for clubs such as the Hertener Löwen, strengthening the connection between school and community. The funding is primarily from the city's budget, supplemented by possible grant funds.

Open Full-Time Schools: Expansion for More Care Security

Another focus was the expansion of Open Full-Time Schools (OGS). The city of Herten has committed to fulfilling the legal requirement for full-day care according to the North Rhine-Westphalia Education Act. Currently, 1,501 children participate in an OGS, which corresponds to a rate of 58%. The goal is to reach 80% by 2029/30.

For this, several schools are in the spotlight: The Barbara School, the Goethe School, and the Comenius School are creating additional rooms and modular facilities to create up to 75 new OGS places. The commissioning of these extensions is planned for August 2026. In contrast, the Wald School plans a renovation according to the cluster principle and a central cafeteria that can be used by up to 100 children.

The funding of OGS is heavily dependent on state funds. For each child without special educational needs, the city receives 2,728 euros per year, with 46% being municipal funding. For children with special educational needs, it is 3,943 euros, with 32% being municipal funding. The city is thus investing specifically in the care infrastructure to meet the growing demand for full-day care.

Strengthening Inclusion: The Model Project "Inclusion Assistants"

Another exciting project discussed in the session is the model project "Inclusion Assistants" of the Recklinghausen district. At four primary schools, including the Süder Primary School in Herten, it is being tested how inclusion can be strengthened through additional pedagogical support. The assistants are accessible to all children in the class to enable flexible and non-stigmatizing support.

The project is funded with grant funds from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in the amount of up to 1.1 million euros. In the long term, the model is to be expanded to other schools in order to create a more inclusive educational system. This is a step towards a fairer educational landscape in which all children – regardless of their need for support – have equal opportunities.

Literacy: AlphaStarter for Newcomers

Another project presented in the session is "AlphaStarter," a literacy program for newcomers in secondary level I. In cooperation with the Herten Adult Education Center and the Ruhr University Bochum, 17 students from four schools will be taught in the CreativWerkstatt from September 2025.

The objective is clear: to integrate the participants more into regular classes and at the same time to open up opportunities for the labor market. The project is funded by ESF funds and the foundation "Die Zukunftswerker." In addition, a catalog for the assessment of language and learning abilities is being developed, which is intended to enable better school enrollment and preparation.

Outlook: Education as a Key to Herten's Future

The decisions made in February 2026 show that the city of Herten is actively addressing the challenges of the future. The new construction of the Rosa Parks School is a sign of a modern, inclusive, and future-ready educational infrastructure. The expansion of the Open Full-Time Schools underlines the legal right to care and shows the willingness to provide resources for the care of the younger generation.

At the same time, Herten is working on inclusion – not only through structural measures but also through innovative projects such as "Inclusion Assistants." The literacy initiative "AlphaStarter" also shows how Herten is responding to the challenges of migration and creating opportunities for all.

Overall, it is evident that education in Herten is not only an educational topic but also a social and economic lever. The city is investing in the future of its citizens – and this is a step in the right direction.