School avoidance in Bremen: A worrying development!

School avoidance in Bremen: A worrying development!

Bremen, Deutschland - In Bremen, school avoidance is a serious problem that affects more and more students. According to the current statistics from 2025, more than 650 children remain permanently far from class per school year. The numbers are alarming: In the school year 2022/23 there were still 711, followed by 652 in 2023/24 and currently 668 in this current school year, as the Weser Report reports.

The reasons for avoiding school are as diverse as the children concerned themselves. Often there are family difficulties, psychological problems or bullying in the background. Children and adolescents withdraw if they can no longer cope with everyday school life. This development alerts the educational institutions in Bremen. Education, social, interior and judicial authorities reacted in 2001 and launched school avoiding projects that have been part of the educational departments of the regional advisory and support centers (Rebuz) since 2024. These offer different learning groups to counteract school avoidance and the students concerned: to support inside.

Individual support from Rebuz

The Rebuz play a central role in the care of school avoiders: inside. Here, pupils who could not go to school for a long time are supported individually. A special educational teacher and two social educators are available per learning group who work closely with the students: inside. The lessons often start with a breakfast together to create a relaxed atmosphere. The subjects range from German and English to art and natural sciences and can be flexibly adapted to the needs of the children.

An important concern of these groups is the gradual return of the pupils to regular school life. According to Rebuz's information, most students have good chances in the inside to ultimately attend their main school regularly. Parents are an essential part of the process. They are encouraged to search for support at an early stage and actively involve the solutions. Parents' cafes offer the opportunity to exchange ideas with experts and other affected families and to develop common strategies.

early detection and support

school avoiding behavior is often not immediately visible. Despite the presence of their parents, children and adolescents can stay away. Therefore, the responsibility for daily school attendance primarily lies among the parents, who should observe signs such as school fear, abdominal or headache or withdrawal at an early stage. A detailed conversation with the school is one of the first steps that parents should take if their children experience symptoms of school avoidance. You can find information on helpful measures on platforms such as the Center for School and Profession.

With a network of various support options, Bremen reacts to the increasing school avoidance behavior. The knowledge gained from the Rebuz projects offer valuable approaches to open up new perspectives for children and young people. Because ultimately it is about regaining the joy of learning and securing a long -term place in the school system.

The following applies to those affected and their families: support is there. If you are looking for help, you can contact Rebuz directly and find a way out of school avoidance together with experts. Further information on the offers can be found on the Rebuz website and in the article of the Weser Report.