Overview

• Education minister Armin Schwarz announced that from third grade pupils in Hesse will continue to compete with clear placements where every second and centimeter counts.
• The state will run its own Landesjugendspiele until a nationwide agreement is reached, marking a public break with the KMK-backed format change.
• The KMK reform recasts the events for grades three and four as a competition using zone-based scoring and fixed-quota certificate distribution rather than exact measurements and national point tables.
• Despite the new state line, parts of Hesse have already adopted the KMK-style approach, resulting in uneven implementation across schools.
• Commentary and critics argue the political fight overlooks shortages in qualified PE teaching and usable facilities, which shape what children can achieve on the day.