Germany on Wednesday honored a special education school in the western city of Bonn that has largely abolished regular classes with the country’s annual School Prize.
According to the Robert Bosch Foundation, which awards the prize together with the Heidehof Foundation, around 250 children and young people learn independently at the Siebengebirgsschule (Seven Bergen School). Students have access to learning studios, creative workshops and a study room.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz joined the foundations to honor the school at an awards ceremony in Berlin on Wednesday. The prize carries a sum of €100,000 ($111,000).
At the school, teachers support students individually.
“The Siebengebirgsschule takes in children who are overwhelmed by regular schools and enables them to find their way back to learning, discover their talents and achieve excellent results,” said Thorsten Bohl, spokesperson for the German School Award jury .
In his remarks at the ceremony, Scholz emphasized the importance of schools in society: “Simply because everyone comes together at school, it is the place where collaboration must work.”
Scholz said the country would have to face problems in the education system, but emphasized that German schools have made real achievements in international comparison.
When asked if he would have used artificial intelligence (AI) to do his homework for him if it had been possible at the time, Scholz replied with a grin, “Maybe.”
