Bernburg/Staßfurt. A Year 10 pupil from Staßfurt is representing the interests of the entire student body in the Salzlandkreis this school year. A grammar school pupil from Bernburg is representing him. And a total of 20 pupils – members and alternate members – have, for the past few days, formed the new district pupils’ council. They had previously been delegated by their schools and elected from among their own ranks, as was also the case this year at the ‘Am Tierpark’ secondary school in Staßfurt.
“Congratulations to Arjen Ole Henning Schwarzkopf, the new district pupil representative, who attends the ‘Hermann-Kasten’ comprehensive school in Staßfurt, and to his deputy, Eike Dockhorn! He is a Year 11 pupil at the Carolinum Bernburg.” Head of Department Anke Meyer offers her congratulations on behalf of the district administration. She is familiar with the annual democratic process within and involving the secondary schools in the Salzlandkreis, culminating in the election of a district-wide pupil council for one academic year.
The District Pupils’ Council represents the interests of pupils and expresses its views. It discusses issues of particular importance to them and, where it considers a matter to be important, puts forward its own proposals to the relevant school authority.
“This is an important skill that young people first have to learn, just like the school curriculum,” says Gunhild Watermann. She heads the relevant specialist department within the district administration. “Working on the district pupils’ council is a great opportunity for young people to represent pupils’ interests with commitment, diligence and courage. Now they must make the most of it.”
In this regard, the Salzlandkreis, itself a school authority, provides support to the pupils’ council. It supplies the necessary information and gives the council the opportunity to comment and put forward proposals.
Unlike the District Pupils’ Council, the District Parents’ Council – which represents the interests of parents of pupils in the Salzland district – serves for a two-year term. A new election for the District Parents’ Council is therefore not due until next year.
The results of the District Pupils’ Council election have been published here: