Saarland overhauls special-needs schools: IT becomes mandatory, middle-school diplomas added
Saarland's cabinet has approved a wide-ranging regulation for the state's 40 special-needs schools, introducing mandatory computer science classes and the option to earn a middle-school diploma from August 1, 2026. The reform responds to a growing and increasingly complex pupil population.
What changes for Saarland's Förder schools
A new regulation, approved by the Ministerrat on 16 June and set to take effect on 1 August 2026, brings several structural changes to special-needs education in Saarland. Schools will now be allowed to offer multiple support priorities at a single location, so children can remain in a familiar environment even when their needs shift. Computer science becomes a compulsory subject at almost all Förder schools, while individual schools gain more leeway to set their own emphases in areas such as sustainability, health, or career orientation.
New pathways to qualifications
For the first time, pupils at certain Förder schools will be able to obtain a middle-school diploma (mittlerer Bildungsabschluss) alongside the existing lower secondary qualification. A mandatory timetable is being introduced for the intellectual-development support priority, and an "individual special educational offer" will enable targeted support measures during the school day. A class council becomes compulsory in all year groups to strengthen democratic education and participation.
Responding to rising demand
The reform is driven by growing pupil numbers and more complex needs. Currently, 4,103 pupils attend one of the 40 Förder schools in Saarland. In the current school year alone, 201 new pupils were admitted, an increase of 5.2 percent, and the ministry expects a similar rise after the summer holidays.
Minister's goal: permeability and inclusion
Education Minister Christine Streichert-Clivot stressed that the regulation is designed to make the system more permeable. Pupils should increasingly have the opportunity to attend a Förder school only temporarily and then return to a mainstream school.
We want regular schools and special-needs schools to move even closer together. Permeability, inclusive education, and the goal of being able to earn qualifications in order to lead a self-determined life belong together.
