Germany’s Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt of the CSU, plans to make civil protection a permanent part of the school curriculum.
Faced with threats ranging from blackouts and floods to terrorism and war, the minister argued that Germany must be better prepared – and that preparation should begin in the classroom. Speaking to Bild am Sonntag, he said students would soon receive targeted training for real‑world emergencies.
“Civil defence belongs in schools. Prevention creates safety. By equipping our pupils with these skills, they become savvy, crisis‑prepared citizens who bring the knowledge straight into their families” Dobrindt told the newspaper.
According to his proposals, the topic will be discussed at the next Interior Ministers’ Conference in June. The plan calls for a compulsory two‑hour block each semester, during which students will acquire practical knowledge covering proper conduct during power outages and natural disasters, how to recognize warning signals, emergency contacts, and how to maintain preparedness at home.