German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has proposed that Germany's school curricula include lessons on crisis preparedness and coping with possible war scenarios. The initiative comes at a time of heightened tensions between Germany and Russia, as the German government looks at ways to boost national security and civic awareness.
Dobrindt, a member of Germany's center-right Christian Social Union (CSU), said he planned to raise the issue at an upcoming meeting of interior ministers from Germany's federal states. He said the main idea was to include practical and theoretical lessons on responding to emergencies or armed conflict.
"My proposal is that within a school year, high school students spend two consecutive classes discussing what threat scenarios might exist and how to prepare for them," Dobrindt stated.
According to him, these lessons are not intended to incite fear or panic, but to develop in young people a broader understanding of civil security and social responsibility. The minister also added that children can play a key role in disseminating knowledge about crisis preparedness within their families.
"Children are important carriers of knowledge within families, so involving them in this process will help raise awareness at home," said Dobrindt.
His proposal has sparked mixed reactions in public opinion and political circles. Some education experts have supported the idea as a step towards better preparing citizens for potential crises, while others have warned of the risk of psychological burden such an approach could bring to children.
