Members of the German left-wing party, Die Linke, are advocating for the complete elimination of costs associated with school learning materials, arguing that access to education should be independent of parental income.
Nicole Gohlke, deputy parliamentary group leader and spokesperson for education and science, emphasized that education is a public good and a fundamental right, therefore requiring funding through collective resources. She called for an end to the financial burdens placed on parents, proposing universal access to learning materials nationwide, regardless of location or socioeconomic status. Gohlke stated that ensuring equal opportunities must begin with the provision of schoolbooks.
Party leader Jan van Aken highlighted the disparity between national wealth and the continued reliance on parental financial resources for essential school supplies. He expressed concern over the rising cost of textbooks annually, asserting that linking education to social origin disadvantages children from lower-income families from the outset. Van Aken characterized this as socially unjust and indicative of political failure.