Berlin's overcrowded classrooms spark urgent calls for reform: what teachers, parents and students are demanding

Berlin's education system is buckling under pressure, and those experiencing it daily are no longer staying silent. Teachers, parents and students across the city are voicing growing frustration over overcrowded classrooms that have become the norm rather than the exception in 2026.

At Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg's Käthe-Kollwitz-Gymnasium, a school serving approximately 1,200 students, administrators report class sizes regularly exceeding 32 pupils—far above the recommended maximum of 25. Parent representatives from the school's Elternrat emphasise that such conditions make individualised learning impossible. "Our children deserve better," say parents who gathered for a recent discussion forum at the school's location on Kottbusser Damm, citing concerns about both academic outcomes and student wellbeing.

The situation reflects broader challenges across Berlin's 700-plus public schools. According to the Senate Department for Education, the city needs approximately 4,000 additional teaching positions by 2030 to meet demand. Currently, Berlin's teacher shortage stands at roughly 1,500 full-time equivalents, a deficit that directly impacts classroom dynamics and student support.

Teacher unions have intensified their advocacy. Representatives speaking at recent forums in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf have highlighted burnout rates among educators, many of whom report managing 30+ students while fulfilling administrative duties and attempting differentiated instruction. "We want to teach effectively," said one Berlin educator speaking at a union assembly, "but the system makes that increasingly difficult."

Students themselves have begun organising. A coalition of sixth-formers from schools across Tempelhof-Schöneberg recently submitted a petition to district officials, arguing that overcrowding affects their ability to concentrate and participate meaningfully in lessons. The petition gathered over 2,000 signatures within three weeks.

University-level concerns echo similar themes. At Humboldt-Universität and other Berlin institutions, rising student enrollment without corresponding infrastructure investment has strained seminar offerings and tutorial availability. First-year students report waiting lists for courses essential to their degree programmes.

Senator Astrid-Sabine Busse has acknowledged the challenges, announcing plans for increased recruitment and improved working conditions. However, affected communities emphasise that meaningful change requires sustained investment, not temporary fixes.

The coming months will prove critical. Whether Berlin's educational stakeholders see their demands translate into concrete policy remains uncertain—but their collective voice signals that current conditions are unsustainable.

This article was compiled by AI from the sources linked above and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.