| Name of the reform | Gemeinsame Empfehlung zum Umgang mit Antisemitismus in Schule (Recommendation on dealing with Anti-Semitism in schools) |
| Country | Germany |
| Year | 2021 |
| Educational level | ISCED 3 |
| Kind / type | Curriculum |
| Coverage | National |
Summary
The Recommendation on Dealing with Antisemitism in Schools was introduced in Germany in response to growing concerns about antisemitic incidents, hate speech, and prejudice affecting school environments. Adopted as a national framework, it aimed to strengthen schools’ capacity to prevent, recognise, and address antisemitism through teacher training, curriculum development, and educational guidance. The recommendation also promoted a broader understanding of Jewish history, culture, and contemporary Jewish life while fostering democratic values, tolerance, critical thinking, and respect for diversity among students.
Agenda Setting
Context:
The recommendation was introduced in response to growing concerns about the increasing visibility of antisemitism in Germany, including attacks on synagogues, hate crimes against Jewish people, conspiracy theories, and antisemitic incidents occurring in schools. Schools were seen as reflecting broader social trends, with reports of antisemitic attitudes and language, including the use of anti-Jewish slurs among students.
At the same time, policymakers argued that education about Jewish people was too often limited to the Holocaust and National Socialism. The recommendation therefore sought to promote a broader understanding of Jewish history, culture, and contemporary Jewish life in Germany. It also responded to concerns that many teachers lacked the knowledge and confidence needed to recognise and address contemporary forms of antisemitism, highlighting the need for teacher training across all subjects.
Aim:
The reform aimed to provide schools with guidelines and strategies to effectively prevent and combat antisemitism. It sought to enhance the understanding of the history and current realities of Jewish people, as well as the origins, manifestations, and consequences of antisemitism. This would help both students and educators better recognise and respond to antisemitic incidents.
Target Groups
- Teachers
- Educational staff
- School leaders
- Teacher-training institutions, and
- Education authorities across all school levels
Formulation and Implementation
Legislative documents:
Joint Recommendation of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, the Joint Federal and State Commission to Fight Antisemitism and Protect Jewish Life, and the Standing Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs on Dealing with Antisemitism in Schools, adopted by the Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK) on 10 June 2021.
Key actions / main measures:
The reform included several key measures. First, it called for the sensitisation of teachers across all subjects to recognise antisemitic incidents. Teachers were expected to react appropriately when they identified such incidents. Additionally, the reform emphasised the importance of including the perspectives of those affected by antisemitism, to foster a more empathetic approach. The overall goal was to equip students with the tools to identify antisemitism in all its forms and encourage them to take a stand against it.
The primary target groups were teachers, school leaders, educational staff, teacher-training institutions, and education authorities, which were expected to incorporate antisemitism prevention into teaching practices, school culture, and professional training. Indirectly, the recommendation targeted all students by fostering democratic values, critical thinking, respect for diversity, and awareness of contemporary Jewish life.
Evaluation and Sustainability
The recommendation was designed as a long-term framework to prevent and address antisemitism in schools. Its sustainability relies on the continued integration of antisemitism awareness, Jewish history and culture, and democratic values into school curricula, teacher training programmes, educational materials, and school policies across the German regions.
Transferability Potential
The approach can be readily adapted to other countries and educational contexts through teacher training, curriculum integration, and school-wide anti-discrimination policies.