German schools crumble as €68 billion repair crisis deepens

Classrooms are falling apart, funds are scarce, and educators are sounding the alarm. Will Germany’s schools get the lifeline they desperately need?

, and Administrator

2025 December 11 . 1:29 AM

1 min read

This is a collage photo and here we can see buildings and we can see some text.

German schools crumble as €68 billion repair crisis deepens

Germany’s schools are facing a growing crisis over crumbling infrastructure, with billions needed for repairs. A new report reveals that 64% of school principals say their buildings require urgent renovation. The Verband Bildung und Erziehung (VBE), a major education union, has now demanded immediate action to fix the problem.

The VBE, which represents around 164,000 teachers and educators, warns that the backlog in school maintenance has reached an estimated €68 billion. Despite the scale of the issue, only 21% of principals with renovation needs currently have access to investment funds.

The VBE’s demands highlight the urgent need for long-term investment in school infrastructure. Without significant funding, many schools will continue to operate in unsafe or inadequate conditions. The union insists that modern, well-maintained buildings are essential for the future of education in Germany.