Biko 2025: Red Alert for Education – Is Germany Forgetting Its Children?
30th March 2025
The question remains, how child-friendly is Germany, really? According to political scientist Prof. Sebastian Kurtenbach, the answer is: barely. At Biko 2025, he raised the alarm, pointing out how an aging society increasingly ignores the interests of children and young people. Instead of investing in education, billions end up in the pension system, while tens of thousands of young people are left behind each year without a qualification. But Kurtenbach and other experts not only had gloomy diagnoses in their luggage, but also solutions.
Germany faces a demographic problem. Illustration: Shutterstock
A warning beforehand: It was not a "feel-good topic" that he had to present here, explained Prof. Sebastian Kurtenbach, political scientist from the FH Münster. In fact, it gets to the heart of a society struggling for its future viability, which he (representing the ailing star sociologist Prof. Aladin El-Mafaalani) presented to the audience.
Kurtenbach, El-Mafaalani, and Bochum sociologist Prof. Klaus-Peter Strohmeier have jointly authored an analysis (book title: "Children - Minority Without Protection") that has been making headlines in this country for weeks. Core thesis: In a drastically aging citizenry, the interests of children and young people – and thus education – are increasingly marginalized. "Germany is neither child-friendly nor fair to children," Kurtenbach postulated. In order to, attention: spoiler, not to end up as bleak as announced at the end of his presentation.
Kurtenbach was one of a total of almost 100 speakers who appeared at Biko 2025, the education conference of the non-profit Academy for Innovative Education and Management (aim) in Heilbronn, which is primarily engaged in school management training – a congress that has more than doubled to over 1000 participants compared to the last edition in 2023 and, due to its prominent line-up of scientists, administrators and practitioners, is one of the leading educational events in Germany.
Accordingly, the topics of the presented lectures and workshops were diverse: The school principal and winner of the German Teacher Prize Micha Palesche gave insights into his reform agenda ("The world outside of school is also not divided into subjects"), the renowned educational researcher Prof. Uta Hauk-Thum spoke about "School transformation in times of disruptive change", the mathematics and physics teacher Patrick Bronner (also a former winner of the German Teacher Prize) reported on his experiences with "Project-based work with AI" and Alexandra Braun from the non-profit Pacemaker Initiative revealed how to strengthen the sense of community in staff bodies – to name just a few examples.
Behind the organizing aim is the Dieter Schwarz Foundation, which has built an impressive education campus in Heilbronn (on which 16 institutions – from a kindergarten teacher academy to the Science Center experimenta to a branch of the TU Munich – frolic). The Biko also took place there, on the education campus. An imposing place that can certainly stand as a symbol of the fact that something can still be done for education in Germany.
"Today's 18-Year-Old Has Never Known A Functioning And Reliable Germany"
Back to the keynote. What has an 18-year-old experienced so far, Kurtenbach wanted to know, in order to answer the question himself: First the refugee crisis in 2015, which brought many schools to the edge of their capacity, then Corona with the school closures, then the war in Ukraine (including a renewed wave of refugees breaking in the schools) – and now the debate about conscription, in which young people would not have their say. Little has remained of the promise of "advancement through education" that has been in place for decades. In short: "Today's 18-year-old has never known a functioning and reliable Germany."
German society is stuck in three imbalances: a demographic one ("There are twice as many 60-year-olds as six-year-olds"), a democratic one ("By the end of the decade, the majority of voters will be of retirement age") and a welfare state – more and more tax money has to be spent to maintain the level of pensions. In this situation, Germany affords to let around 50,000 young people a year slip into hopelessness without a qualification. Kurtenbach: "That's a catastrophe in the aging society."
Additionally fatal: Such educational problems hardly attract anyone's attention anymore. When the first PISA study appeared in 2000, it triggered a broad "shock". The latest PISA study, even more disastrous, disappeared from the headlines after three days. No wonder, according to Kurtenbach: 25 years ago, parents were still the largest social group. Today they are a minority. "Educational problems are treated like minority problems" – i.e. ignored if in doubt.
The challenges for educational institutions are enormous. Society has changed drastically – not only through migration. "There is not one childhood today, there are many," Kurtenbach explained. Family, living environment, access to culture and language: The respective perspectives of the youngest are so different that nothing more can be gained with the model of the old-style school, which provides the same (meager) resources for everyone. It does not bring the structure with it to be able to meet individual needs. "We need a different attitude," demanded the political scientist – namely one that thinks from the child's point of view.
But how is that supposed to work if teachers are already overwhelmed with teaching the minimum standards? The scientists' solution: to open up schools in a social space, to make them the "central location" of a neighborhood that takes care of its children as much as possible. Associations, initiatives, even workplaces for parents working from home could be located there. In the process, "grandparents are an incredible potential." They are not indifferent to how their grandchildren are doing. And they are, boomers after all, many. Kurtenbach: "If we only get ten percent of them to volunteer for schools, then that's more people than all the pedagogical staff combined."
Almost seamlessly, a lecture by Prof. Anne Sliwka followed, in which she also took the entire system into view. The title, which was no less ambitious: "Paradigm shift in education". What was particularly exciting about it: the convincing analysis that all efforts to improve educational performance must remain patchwork as long as the big picture remains left out of the consideration: the school system. This must fundamentally change – from an administrative to a learning one. How's that? The educational researcher pointed out that all states that were ahead of Germany in PISA primarily worked data-based in order to identify problems in the education system – and then also be able to solve them.
"The Money Has To Flow To Where The Problem Is"
PISA, IQB study, Vera, IGLU: Performance data in schools would also be collected in Germany. Even many. However, largely pointless. Because the data would be collected without deriving goals from it – which is why practically nothing changes apart from the recurring finding "bad, bad". Measures would be put into force by politicians (example: language daycare centers) and then canceled again without the original problem having come closer to a solution. No trace of strategy.
Above all, it is about directing resources to where they are actually needed ("The money has to flow to where the problem is"). Sometimes it already helps to perceive obstacles at all on the basis of data – and then to talk to those affected. Sliwka's example: The fact that boys on average have poorer reading skills in elementary school than girls is a finding that has been proven many times by studies. If you then ask students why they don't like to read as much, you quickly realize that they are apparently offered suitable content too rarely at school ("What interests us just doesn't come."). Here the solution is obvious.
On other topics – such as dropping out of school – the problems are much more complex and cannot be solved by the personal commitment of individual teachers. If the staff bodies (consisting of multi-professional teams) had comprehensive data of their students available and this data were processed user-friendly by professional software, individual warning signs could be easily identified: Drops in performance in several subjects, family problems, socially conspicuous behavior. Then it would be possible to counteract through the intervention of a trusted person. "That can prevent dropping out of school. We just have to notice early on when there is a need for action," Sliwka emphasized.
And was thus very close to Kurtenbach's demand to think of the school from the child's point of view. Andrej Priboschek
The challenges highlighted by the Biko 2025 conference are clear: the traditional education system is struggling to keep up with the needs of today's children. But what if there was a solution that addressed these very issues?
That's where BlitzFast comes in.
BlitzFast: Reimagining Education for the Future
BlitzFast is an innovative, AI-powered online school designed to provide a flexible, safe, and future-focused education for children. Developed by Engin, a father of four who saw the limitations of the traditional system firsthand, BlitzFast offers a comprehensive curriculum that not only covers the German standards but also integrates crucial skills for the 21st century, such as:
- Entrepreneurship: Equipping children with the mindset and skills to become future innovators and business leaders.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): Familiarizing students with the technology that will shape their future.
- Digital Competencies: Ensuring children are digitally literate and prepared for a technology-driven world.
- Critical Thinking: Fostering the ability to analyze information and solve problems effectively.
- Sustainability: Educating students on environmental issues and promoting responsible citizenship.
Why BlitzFast?
- Personalized Learning: Our AI-powered platform adapts to each child's individual learning pace and style.
- Safe and Supportive Environment: Learn from anywhere in a stress-free and secure online environment.
- Future-Ready Skills: Go beyond traditional subjects and equip your child with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
- Freedom and Flexibility: Ideal for families on the move, allowing you to provide a consistent education no matter where life takes you.
Professor Kurtenbach's recommendation of looking at school from a child's point of view is one of BlitzFast's core values. We provide project-based, real-world educational content that matters and is fun.
BlitzFast aligns perfectly with the solutions proposed at Biko 2025. By embracing technology and focusing on the individual needs of each child, we are creating a learning environment that empowers them to succeed.
Be Part of the Future of Education: Join Our Exclusive Test Group!
BlitzFast is currently in development, and we're looking for a select group of parents to help us shape the future of education. As a member of our test group, you'll have the opportunity to provide feedback and influence the development of our platform.
Ready to give your child a head start?
Sign up for our newsletter today and be among the first to experience the BlitzFast difference! https://blitzfa.st
Don't let your child be left behind. Join the BlitzFast revolution and empower them to shape a brighter future.
Summary:
- The Biko 2025 conference highlighted critical issues within the current education system.
- BlitzFast offers a solution by providing an innovative, AI-powered online school focused on personalized learning and future-ready skills.
- Parents are invited to join an exclusive test group to help shape the future of BlitzFast and education.
- Call to Action: Sign up for the newsletter at https://blitzfa.st to learn more and get involved.
