Overview

• Ministerpräsident Olaf Lies announced that leased tablets will be rolled out to seventh graders in the 2026/27 academic year, extending to higher grades thereafter.
• Under the plan, students will use each device for at least one year, with those reaching grade 10 likely needing replacements due to lease durations.
• The programme fulfills an SPD 2022 election pledge for uniform, fee-free devices and revives a coalition accord originally focused on eighth graders.
• The Kultusministerium argues that year-seven is ideal since tablets can supplant calculators in mathematics, delivering ecological and organisational benefits.
• While the GEW praised the move as vital for digital equity, the CDU pressed Lies for firmer commitments on the schedule ahead of funding approval.