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Kiel students in digital chaos: 1700 iPads blocked due to security risks!
In Kiel, 1,700 students' iPads were blocked to avoid security risks. Schools now have to switch to analogue teaching.
Kiel students in digital chaos: 1700 iPads blocked due to security risks!
There is currently a lot of excitement in Kiel because the school authorities have blocked the iPads of around 1,700 students at 33 schools in the city. As kn-online.de reports, this was done for security reasons. The devices are outdated and no longer receive security updates, posing a significant risk to the entire school network. The affected iPads, which are five years old, were 7th generation and had to be decommissioned on November 11, 2025.
The news of the lockdown came as a surprise to many teachers and students. Instead of the usual digital support, many classes now have to resort to analog teaching methods, which also affects the immediate preparations for the annual project work for graduation. At a time when digital devices are becoming increasingly important, this puts students, especially those nearing graduation, in a precarious position.
The financial challenges
The financial consequences are also enormous. Replacing the locked iPads is estimated to cost around 620,000 euros, with the municipalities initially having to cover the costs. A challenge that does not go unnoticed in the general discussion about financing digitalization in schools in Germany. According to statista.com, this is a central problem that still exists despite billions announced for the education sector. The digital pact, which is supposed to invest around 6.5 billion euros in schools between 2019 and 2024, may not provide sufficient relief here.
Kiel's head of education, Renate Treutel, emphasized the need to promote the exchange of iPads. She sees Apple's lack of support for 7th generation devices as an unacceptable security risk. However, it remains to be seen how the financial resources can be obtained and whether students will have to cope without digital aids during this transition phase.
Digital education in general and its relevance
The situation in Kiel is another example of the challenges of digital education in schools. Digitalization has progressed, but it also brings with it new questions and problems. Despite improved technical equipment and infrastructure, the results of the ICILS study have shown that the digital skills of students in Germany are declining. This is also underscored by the discussion surrounding cell phone bans in schools, which are often introduced in response to distractions caused by digital devices.
A digital media literacy project called IPAD (Innovative Digital Awareness Resources for Parents on Social Media Literacy and Internet Safety) attempts to equip adults with the necessary tools to teach social media literacy and Internet safety. The initiative aims to promote reflective online behavior and includes the development of materials and training programs that may also be of interest to schools. These resources, accessible to teachers and parents, could potentially make a valuable contribution to improving digital education while Kiel is still working on solutions to the current problems. You can find out more about this project here.
It will be exciting to see how the situation in Kiel develops and what solutions are found to guarantee the students the support they need for their education. The public discourse about digital education in Germany shows that there is still a lot to be done to create equal opportunities for all students and to adequately prepare them for the requirements of an increasingly digital future.