European Trade Union Committee for Education

On 20 March 2017, the German education trade union VBE and the German occupational union of doctors specialised in children and adolescents (BVKJ) gave a press conference on their demand to introduce medical personnel in schools.

As chronic as well as severe illnesses, such as Diabetes, allergies or cancer, among children and adolescents increase, pupils are in need of medical attention during their time at school. There is no federal law regulating the dissemination of medication in schools.

“To meet the needs of the children as well as demands of the parents and to render inclusion possible, teachers resort to grey areas of legislation and take on tasks they are not qualified for”, states Udo Beckmann, chairperson of the VBE.

VBE and BVKJ stress that the education personnel’s area of responsibility is education; medical assistance, the administration of medication and classes focusing on prevention should be provided by medical personnel is schools. Furthermore, the two unions demand that the pilot projects which already exist in two German federal states are extended to all federal states as soon as possible.

For more information, visit the VBE website.