Rectors’ conference opposes rush to reopen universities

Germany’s Upper House, the Bundesrat, has endorsed a number of measures adopted by the federal parliament to facilitate academic activities in the coronavirus crisis, although it strongly urges the government to do more to back students facing hardship. Meanwhile, the German Rectors’ Conference is warning against any hasty reopening of institutions.

Government plans to extend limited contracts for academic staff in the qualification phase of their career by up to six months provided that their work is affected by COVID-19 restrictions gained parliamentary approval early in May. The contracts concerned have to cover the period between the beginning of March and the end of September. This measure is intended to give academics more flexibility and planning security.

A further proposal endorsed by the Bundesrat addresses improvements for the recipients of financial support in accordance with the federal student grants system, the Bundesausbildungs-Förderungsgesetz (BAföG). Students working in an area or a profession contributing to containing the pandemic will not have corresponding earnings deducted from their BAföG support.

However, the Bundesrat insists that BAföG-supported students must not be put at a disadvantage through COVID-19 restrictions and continues to demand that the federal government enable money to be paid to them beyond the usual maximum period of support.

Furthermore, it criticises the federal government for having stuck to its decision to provide loans for students facing immediate financial crisis through the coronavirus restrictions rather than opting for proposals by the state governments to apply a combination of loans and grants. It therefore calls on the federal government to “once again review the loan programme for the benefit of the students”.

Meanwhile, the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK or Hochschulrektorenkonferenz) has strongly warned against any “rushed and untenable resumption of classroom teaching at universities in Germany”. While welcoming the reopening of society, HRK President Peter-André Alt advises against rushing into extensive classroom teaching.

“For one thing, most universities do not have the space required to comply with the all-important hygiene regulations,” Alt explains. “Added to this is the fact that classroom and online teaching cannot be swapped at will or at short notice. Digital teaching follows its own rules and regularities that also affect the arrangement and presentation of the subject matter.”

Alt praises the proficiency that institutions have displayed in developing new concepts and the speed at which they have put them into practice and stresses that all those involved have been able to hone their digital skills.

“Abruptly starting normal lectures again would ruin this,” Alt states. “It is therefore advisable to only initiate classroom teaching for placements and tutorials that cannot be replaced by digital versions.”

The federal and state governments have now reached agreement that further reopening will be permitted, but that most decisions here will be taken at the individual state level. Some federal states are considering what the HRK refers to as “a very broad and rapid resumption of classroom teaching at universities”.

“In view of the social and individual planning, an incremental approach is strongly advised,” Alt comments. “Students in particular have largely adapted to digital contact and made the necessary arrangements, with some of them temporarily relocating. Raising false hopes among this large and important group in society would send out a problematic message during this transition period.”

Risk remains high

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the government’s key disease monitoring and prevention institution, on 19 May Germany had 175,210 COVID-19 cases, representing an increase of 513 compared to the previous day and amounting to 211 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. In all, there had been 8,007 deaths. The RKI still assesses the health risk as high, and as very high for risk groups, as defined for example by age or underlying illnesses.

Facemasks must be worn on public transport and in shops, and a distance of 1.5 metres has to be maintained to other individuals in public spaces. Restaurants and cafés have largely been reopened, although stringent safety precautions apply. The same holds for parks and zoos, and most open-air swimming pools are to be opened by the end of the month.

The ban on visits to old people’s homes and hospitals has been slightly eased. Schools and day-care centres have largely been reopened, although with stringent hygiene and distancing regulations. Various sports activities avoiding physical contact have been resumed, and Bundesliga soccer matches are now taking place, albeit behind closed doors. Media hype over the latter issue recently caused heated debates over news item priorities in the coronavirus crisis.

Michael Gardner E-mail: michael.gardner@uw-news.com