Germany's school violence surge sparks fierce political blame game
A heated debate has erupted in Germany over rising school violence and its possible causes. Beatrix von Storch, deputy leader of the AfD in parliament, accused SPD politician Saskia Esken of downplaying the issue and linked it to migration. Esken firmly rejected the claim, insisting migration was not to blame for violence in schools. The dispute began after Esken, chair of the Bundestag's Education Committee, acknowledged a rise in bullying and violent incidents across German schools. She pointed to a lack of conflict resolution skills among students as the main reason. Police data also shows a sharp increase in recorded violent incidents in all federal states.
At least nine states—including Brandenburg, Hessen, and Nordrhein-Westfalen—have reported more extremist incidents at schools since 2020. However, the figures focus mainly on right-wing extremism rather than general violence, and nationwide police statistics remain incomplete.
The AfD responded by demanding better tracking of school violence and stricter measures against religiously motivated bullying. Von Storch criticised Esken's stance, arguing that migration played a role in the problem. The party's motions were later sent to committees for further review.
Other political groups weighed in as well. Representatives from the Union, Greens, and Left Party agreed that school violence was a serious issue. But they accused the AfD of oversimplifying the causes. Nearly one in five German students also faces cyberbullying, adding to concerns about safety in education. The debate highlights deep divisions over how to address school violence. While Esken emphasised better conflict training, the AfD pushed for stricter monitoring and linked the issue to migration. The motions will now be examined in committee, but no immediate policy changes have been announced.
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