Brandenburg's Parliament Hosts Record 1,800 Students in 2025 Public Debates

A surge in youth engagement reshapes local democracy. Why did some districts send no students at all?

, and Administrator

2026 May 11 . 6:02 AM

1 min read

The image shows a group of children sitting at desks in a classroom, with books and pens on the... — The image shows a group of children sitting at desks in a classroom, with books and pens on the tables in front of them. In the background, there is a wall with a window, suggesting that the children are in a school setting. The image conveys a sense of hope and optimism, as if the children have achieved something great.

Brandenburg's Parliament Hosts Record 1,800 Students in 2025 Public Debates

Brandenburg’s State Parliament welcomed nearly 1,800 students to its public debates in 2025. The visitor programme proved especially popular with older secondary pupils, with ninth and tenth graders attending in the largest numbers. Schools from some districts, however, did not take part at all last year. A total of 1,790 students visited the parliament’s plenary sessions over the year. The highest attendance came from Oberhavel, where 337 pupils took part. Märkisch-Oderland followed with 256 students, while Ostprignitz-Ruppin sent 206.

The programme was booked 47 times in 2025, often by schools bringing multiple classes at once. All visitors, including students, were required to present ID upon entry. Overall, the parliament saw around 76,500 guests of all ages during the same period. Not all districts participated, though. No schools from Brandenburg an der Havel, Oder-Spree, or Uckermark attended in 2024 or 2025.

The State Parliament’s visitor programme remains a key way for students to engage with local democracy. Ninth and tenth graders continue to make up the largest share of young attendees. Meanwhile, some regions have yet to send any pupils to the debates.