Bavaria Faces Volunteer Crisis as High School Reform Cuts Graduate Numbers

The G8 to G9 transition has left a missing graduating class in 2025, causing a 40% drop in volunteers for critical social services, with no government solution in place.

• The shift from an eight-year to a nine-year high school system in Bavaria has resulted in a missing graduating class in 2025, reducing high school graduates from 34,000 to just 5,900 this year.
• This has caused a projected 40% decrease in participants for voluntary social services like the Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr (FSJ) and Bundesfreiwilligendienst, severely impacting hospitals, schools, and care facilities.
• Organizations like the Bayerisches Rotes Kreuz (BRK) and Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband report financial strain, as funding tied to volunteer numbers drops while fixed costs remain constant.
• The Bavarian government has rejected calls for a €5.5 million structural fund to address the gap, stating discussions with welfare organizations are ongoing but offering no concrete measures.
• Experts warn of long-term risks to social service structures and workforce development, as fewer volunteers may enter social professions in the future.

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