The government in North Rhine-Westphalia corrected currently a serious mistake of the previous government: The legal prohibition of compulsory attendance in certain courses is repealed. The universities should decide for themselves, whether in seminars, Exercises or training the attendance of students is required. For Lectures, it was anyway never.

The former science Minister of the country, meanwhile, the government is responsible for the environment, Svenja Schulze, had through ignorance of the requirements for a successful study against all expert advice, that the Absence of the above-mentioned events should formally remain without consequences. A corresponding behavior of the students would lead to gaps in your Knowledge and you may even study success risk, remained unnoticed.

presence of a duty does not lead to motivation

The intention of lifting the ban leads not to a “course change”, such as from student circles, it is feared. Depending on the didactical and technical need, the leaders of the institutions of higher education decide to participate, what courses the students. This fits better to the demand, the colleges should worry more about reducing the percentage of drop-outs.

A compulsory attendance for certain courses it is the mistake of the former Minister. It is all the more necessary, after the proportion of students increased in a population of the same age to be around 50 percent and many are coming to the universities, where the freedom is unknown. A certain amount of “Schooling” of the studies in the face of nationwide, nearly 2.9 million students are not preventable. It requires not only the recommendations, how to organize a course of study, but also the clear instructions, which events the participation is in the interest of success in learning is mandatory.

zig-zag course in education

The Situation with the different objectives (introduction and abolition of the ban) makes it clear how changeable and unstable individual phenomena of the higher education policy. For the Involved the is rather confusing, certainly helpful.

The introduction has been rejected by virtually all professionals. The former head of Ministry will not let go of their ideology-influenced attitude, and created a control that had to fall of the next Reform to the victims. Sometimes the zig-zag course in education is inevitable.

More about

formation of The new student record is a Chance

Anja Kühne

if you would like to discuss with the author, send him an E-Mail to: [email protected]