Heat wave in Lübeck: Schools announce heat-free conditions for students!

Heat wave in Lübeck: Schools announce heat-free conditions for students!

The upcoming temperatures on July 2nd are causing excitement among students and parents in Lübeck. With up to 37 degrees Celsius in Lauenburg and 36 degrees in Lübeck, a real heat wave is expected. “Heat free!” That's what many people are now saying, and the students can hope for a little relief. Dörte de Graaf, deputy spokeswoman for the Ministry of Education in Kiel, emphasizes that school management is free to decide whether and how lessons will be held in exceptional weather conditions. This regulation affects all school types and grades, and the Ministry of Education ensures that parents are informed in good time.

What is happening in the schools? At high schools, for example the Johanneum in Lübeck, lessons are shortened using a “Sahara plan”. This involves reducing class times from 45 to 30 minutes to allow students to be released earlier, while still not neglecting any subjects. The Lauenburgische Seen Community School has already decided to give heat-free, while other schools will make their decisions at short notice.

Heat free and its rules

But what does heat-free actually look like? There is no legal right to this, explains school councilor Stefan Beeg. Classes can also take place in the shade, but going home early is not always possible. Various regulations also apply in many federal states. For example, in Lower Saxony, high school students are now granted heat-free treatment, which is usually not the case in other federal states, such as North Rhine-Westphalia. School ministries in several federal states have introduced guidelines, although the decision ultimately rests with school management. Room temperatures above 27 degrees Celsius are often the benchmark for awarding heat-free status.

Special regulations must be observed for the primary and secondary levels: In many cases, students in grades 5 and 6 are only allowed to leave the classroom before the regular end of class after consulting with their parents, while students in the upper level (secondary level II) are often excluded from these regulations. In secondary school, class tests should, if possible, not be held during extreme heat to avoid health risks.

Regionally different regulations

These diverse regulations are not the same everywhere. In federal states such as Baden-Württemberg and Brandenburg, the heat-free period starts at 25 degrees, in Hamburg from 27 degrees. In Saxony-Anhalt, heat-free conditions are granted from 26 degrees at 11 a.m., while in other federal states, including Schleswig-Holstein, schools are given a lot of freedom. The decision on this is made by those responsible on site.

In summary, it should be noted that each school location in northern Germany can act individually when it comes to the well-being of the students in oppressive heat. The anticipation of being heat-free is increasing, and with a well-considered arrangement everyone involved can get through the heat well.

For further information and details about the regulations in different federal states, please read LN Online, Ministry of Education NRW and RND after.