After months of delay, the Bundesrat’s unanimous decision to amend Article 104c of the Basic Law, which had already been initiated by the Bundestag, now enables the implementation of the Digital Pact for Schools. With the amendment to the Basic Law, the federal government can grant the federal states financial aid to increase the efficiency of the municipal education infrastructure.
In addition to investing at least 5.5 billion euros in nationwide digital infrastructures at Germany’s schools, most of which will be provided by the federal government, the federal states have committed to providing further training for teachers, adapting educational plans and further developing teaching. Parallel to the legislative process, the federal and state governments have agreed on a corresponding administrative agreement. In recognition of the educational sovereignty of the federal states, the compromise reached in the mediation committee stipulates, among other things, that the federal government has weaker control rights for investments in digital education infrastructure compared to other areas.