Overview
- The Konflikt‑ und Gewaltbarometer, published and presented on Monday, June 22, 2026, is a state‑commissioned, university‑led study based on surveys of about 14,000 pupils and 2,500 teachers plus interviews and group discussions.
- More than half of teachers called violence and conflicts at their school a large or very large problem and nearly two‑thirds reported an increase in violence since the COVID‑19 pandemic.
- Pupil self‑reports show high rates of insults and humiliation (about 63% of ninth‑graders), exclusion and mobbing (around 26%), and physical assault (about 25%), with teachers saying conflicts now escalate faster than before.
- Researchers and respondents point to post‑pandemic trends, digital spillover of disputes through messaging and social media, and growing religious and social conformity pressure as key drivers, with worrying signs already visible in primary schools.
- Unions and school leaders demand more school social work, psychologists and staff to prevent and respond to incidents, and the Senate has said it will use the study to design concrete measures and funding decisions while also testing which prevention programs to expand or adapt.