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Student protest against conscription: demonstrations on Friday in Lower Saxony!
On December 5th, students in Lower Saxony protest against compulsory military service. School attendance remains compulsory and leave of absence is difficult to obtain.
Student protest against conscription: demonstrations on Friday in Lower Saxony!
On Friday, December 5th, a strong signal will be sent across Germany against the planned conscription. Students take to the streets to make their voices heard. But what does this mean for the school landscape in Lower Saxony? The Ministry of Education makes it clear that this day remains a regular school day and is not an official school strike day. Compulsory schooling remains the highest priority in Lower Saxony. Students who are absent from class without an excuse are therefore officially recorded as being absent without an excuse. Your participation in the demonstration could have serious consequences.
In Lower Saxony, attending schools on school days is mandatory; a strike or boycott of classes is not permitted. However, things are not quite that simple. Students have a right to freedom of assembly, which they are entitled to in accordance with Article 8 of the Basic Law. Nevertheless, participation in demonstrations during class time is a hotly debated topic. Participation in a demonstration is generally not a sufficient reason to stay away from class.
Leave of absence and its hurdles
A leave of absence from attending school can be applied for under certain conditions. However, this does not happen across the board - the school management decides on a case-by-case basis. The application must be submitted in writing and in a timely manner, and adult students or their legal guardians must also submit it on their behalf. The Ministry of Culture points out that leave of absence is not granted in most cases, especially if exams or class tests are due that day.
For the students, this means: Anyone who doesn't go to school on such a day not only risks negative assessments in written work, but also in oral learning assessments. In addition, they have no legal accident protection during their participation in the demonstration, which means that in the event of an accident the responsibility lies entirely with the legal guardians.
The context of the demonstrations
What is behind the day of action, which is supported by state student representatives, trade unions and the Left Party? On Friday, the Bundestag will vote on the Military Service Modernization Act, which provides for mandatory military registration for men aged 18 and over. In addition, mustering will be mandatory again from 2027. Women can volunteer for military service. The protesters have resorted to the battle cry "No to conscription! No to all compulsory service!" united and are now mobilizing students in many cities, from Annaberg-Buchholz to Wuppertal.
The demos start at different times, some as early as 8 a.m., others at 11 a.m. or 12 p.m. Huge numbers of protesters are expected. So that these voices do not go unheard, some students are probably prepared to accept the consequences of an unexcused absence.
In schools there could be more discussions and legal questions about students' participation in the demonstrations during school hours. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the Ministry of Schools and Education has already emphasized that compulsory schooling is the top priority, but participation in meetings outside of class time is permitted.
One thing is clear: Friday will be a meaningful day for students, teachers and society as a whole in Lower Saxony and beyond. It will be exciting to see how these protests pan out and what long-term consequences could arise from this form of resistance.