According to the presented plans, the city of Cottbus is aiming for an immediate response to the increasing number of students in secondary education, beginning in grade 7 or grade 5 for performance and gifted classes. This response primarily involves adjusting the standards for already increased school capacities, justified by the corresponding demand for additional teaching staff. The question of why this adjustment was not implemented earlier remains unanswered. The number of students (e.g., at the LLG) will not increase.
Furthermore, the city is addressing this issue in its planning by actually increasing capacities at schools, specifically the NSG and MSG. In both cases, statements from school and subject conferences, as well as other representatives such as the district school board and the Sorbian and Wendish representatives in Lusatia, have been provided.
In the case of the NSG, the increase in student numbers leads to an overload of teachers and space capacities, especially concerning specialized, remedial, and interest-based classes. We refer to the aforementioned statements and assess the city’s proposal for the NSG as an acute threat to the unique profile of the school, which includes a dormitory supported by the Domowina and bears responsibility for the communities and students throughout the Lower Lusatian region or the settlement areas of the Sorbs and Wends. In this case, the goals and possibilities of minority protection as well as the preservation and revitalization of the language are acutely endangered. Therefore, from our perspective, the corresponding decision regarding the NSG cannot be supported.
As part of its further planning, the city intends to establish a new comprehensive school, justified by the high demand among students and parents. Features such as the opportunity to offer an upper secondary school and a three-year Abitur program are attractive, and the desire to keep the developmental perspectives of 10-12-year-old children open is more than understandable and developmentally justified. This new comprehensive school could result from the transition of the Sachsendorfer Oberschule to this type of school (a phased transition for a newly established school), a possibility suggested by the school conference of the SOS, as the school currently struggles with the lowest popularity.
The establishment of a new comprehensive school at the location of Spremberger Vorstadt, at the site of the school for second-chance education, is proposed. This school plays a crucial role in offering opportunities for individuals with challenging, delayed, or interrupted educational trajectories, especially young and older adults with or without migration backgrounds, including parents. This allows them to achieve qualifications retrospectively, often while partially employed. The SZBW’s catchment area extends across South Brandenburg. Any uncertainty regarding the school’s future would create significant insecurities for its target groups and its teaching staff. No detailed statement has been made about a potential alternative location or replacement for the SZBW, which is supposed to make way for the new comprehensive school. The administration’s position that the individual cases (schools) affected cannot be addressed in the updated school development plan is therefore unacceptable. The uncertainty and lack of commitment in the case of the SZBW are concerning.
Regarding the “Lausitzer Sportschule” comprehensive school, the proposed expansion of school capacity was rejected by the school, citing the institution’s specific profile. This profile produces not only elite athletes but also, in all grade levels, students who complete their education without further athletic development. This reasoning is acceptable concerning the squad and team sizes determined by sports federations. However, favoring the sports profile over the MINT, Sorbian-Wendish, or SZBW profiles is not acceptable. It must be noted that, contrary to the city’s argument, negotiated individual cases have indeed been incorporated into the updated school development plan.
We propose establishing a closer partnership with the districts of OSL and SPN to jointly and more effectively utilize capacities in vocational education centers (OSZ) to gain access to the Makarenkostraße OSZ site. We also suggest evaluating the Job Center location at the same address, whose relocation could free up additional capacities that might be suitable for school use—at least until a future new building or better solution is found. Investigating other locations (e.g., department store, Blechen Carré, or additional ideas) should not be abandoned. The financial situation of municipalities, states, and the federal government requires a willingness for new, creative, and pragmatic approaches. Efforts for replacement buildings or new school buildings must continue unabated.
From the above statements:
The space capacities of the Lower Sorbian Grammar School are already at their limits. Introducing a fourth class stream would endanger the overall spatial possibilities, particularly the specialized classes required at this special school. The Lower Sorbian Grammar School is organized as a Sorbian/Wendish school with a unique profile in accordance with Article 25(3) of the Brandenburg State Constitution, §10(1) of the Sorbs/Wends Rights Act (SWG), and §7(1) of the Sorbs/Wends School Ordinance (SWSchulV). The authorization was granted by the responsible member of the state government for education. Participation in Sorbian/Wendish classes or classes taught in Sorbian/Wendish (S/W) as a foreign language is mandatory for students of the Lower Sorbian Grammar School. Lessons in certain subjects must be taught in Lower Sorbian. Based on the circumstances described here, it is imperative, considering the constitutional and legal framework in Brandenburg, to refrain from introducing a fourth class stream at the Lower Sorbian Grammar School.
District School Board of the City of Cottbus/Chóśebuz
PF 10 12 35, 03013 Cottbus
Spokesperson: Claudia Brunzel
First Deputy: Maik Jorsch-Schuppe
Contact email: ksb-cottbus@gmx.de
Second Deputy: Julius Domke
District School Board of Cottbus/Chóśebuz
The Steenbeck Gymnasium has submitted a request to the MBJS for a second LUBK. The school should retain the option to freely choose between LUBK and Ü7. It is essential to ensure that the school’s profile is not diluted or lost.
“Statement within the hearing procedure on the partial update of the 2022–2027 School Development Plan of the City of Cottbus/Chóśebuz” in accordance with §91(3) No. 2 of the Brandenburg School Act (BbgSchulG):
The Lower Sorbian Grammar School is a Sorbian/Wendish school with a unique profile pursuant to §8a of the BbgSchulG in conjunction with §7 of the SWSchulV. Students at the school exercise their right under Article 25(1) Sentence 1 of the Brandenburg State Constitution, §10(1) Sentence 1 of the SWG, and §5(1) Sentence 1 of the BbgSchulG to learn the Sorbian/Wendish language.
Statement from the members of the school conference on October 8, 2024:
The members of the school conference of the Lower Sorbian Grammar School in Cottbus/Chóśebuz strongly oppose the proposed indefinite capacity increase to four class streams starting in the 2025/2026 school year as outlined in the partial update of the 2022–2027 School Development Plan of the City of Cottbus/Chóśebuz due to insufficient personnel and spatial resources and the resulting threat to the school’s profile.
Present: 10 voting members of the school conference
Votes in favor: 9 voting members
Votes against: 1 voting member
No abstentions.