Lower Saxony Launches New Network to Tackle Discrimination in Schools

In Lower Saxony a new network has been established which aims to strengthen anti-discrimination educational work in schools in the region and make it more visible. The “Netzwerk Diskriminierungskritische Schule Niedersachsen (NDS²) / Network of Schools Critical of Discrimination in Lower Saxony” wants to turn schools into places of respectful coexistence, which requires a clear stance against anti-democratic tendencies and the development of tools for actively confronting discrimination.
On April 22, 2025, Ifak participated in the kick-off event of NDS² in Hanover where around 100 people from the education sector and civil society came together to network and share ideas. The event was a great opportunity to present our Erasmus+ project "Participa City", which aims to foster inclusion and participation of ethnic and cultural minorities in Europe, and to get impulses for its further development. The participants joined different workshops and underlined the necessity for systemic approaches regarding discrimination in schools and shared best practices.
For Lower Saxony a variety of needs at different levels was identified. The participants would like to see clear guidelines from the Ministry of Education, such as teaching materials that are critical of discrimination and mandatory further training for the entire teaching staff. At school level, the expansion of multi-professional teams and long-term anti-discrimination programs across all year groups were called for to be able to better support affected students.
The kick-off event of NDS² was a highly interesting and fruitful meeting that brought together many people from different backgrounds who want to jointly provide impetus for anti-discriminatory school practices. For the future, the network intends to intensify its collaboration and to offer more and more information on its website: https://ndshochzwei.de/. Stay tuned to their website for updates, resources, and opportunities to get involved. Together, we’re building communities - where everyone belongs.