Secular Education Funding Reform of 2019 - Saxenheim

Rationale

These changes ensure equal, unbiased education and fair public funding, preventing discrimination and promoting social cohesion: only a secular school can be a modern, comprehensive and inclusive school.

Proposed Changes

	Law	Previous		Proposed
1	Religious Education in Schools	Optional religious classes		Strictly secular education
2	State-Funded Faith Schools	Permit existing state-funded faith schools		State funds secular schools only

1

Religious Education in Schools

Previous law

Optional religious classes

Strictly secular education

2

State-Funded Faith Schools

Previous law

Permit existing state-funded faith schools

State funds secular schools only

Proposer

Party

Alliance For Digital Freedom And Rights

ADFR is a centre-to-centre-left, social-liberal party. We advocate for an open and neutral Internet, strong privacy rights, a digital PA and an eco-social market economy. We focus on white-collar professionals and innovative companies, ensuring technology expands freedom and opportunities for all.

Core pillars

Anton Vogel

Activist · Age 36

71,501 social followers

A cybersecurity expert and ethical hacker, Anton Vogel rose to fame by exposing bureaucratic corruption and inefficiency, leveraging his expertise and massive following to put the accelerator on the digitalisation of the country.

🚀 Ambitious ⭐ Celebrity 🏙️ Street Smart 🔗 Well Connected

Timeline

Draft

25 August 2019
Vote Open

25 August 2019
Vote Closed

24 October 2019
Became Law

24 October 2019

Vote tally

Live tally across each chamber. Weighted by seats held.

Bundesrat

Passed

37Yes 6No 26Not voted 69 seats

For: 37 / 69 seats (53.6%)

Against: 6 · Abstained: 0 · Not voted: 26

50.1% of those voting must vote in favour (actual = 86.0%)

Party	Seats	Vote	Reason
Alliance For Digital Freedom And Rights Proposer	16	Yes	No reason given
Competence And Freedom	8	Yes	We support this proposal, since we agree that state funds should only go to secular schools and not favor any belief over another.
Homeland Alliance	0	Abstain	No reason given
Left Forward	13	Yes	Public education should belong to everyone. Children from different backgrounds learn together every day, and the state should treat them equally. That means public money should go to schools that are open to all and free from religious influence. Faith has its place in society, but the classroom should be a space where every child feels equally welcome, regardless of what they believe at home.
Saxenheim Republic	6	No	We entirely oppose this proposal as school is not just an area to learn academics also religion and faith cutting of the funds to faith school is definitely not a good thing for secular Saxenheim as the religious classes are not forced currently its just optional and which is good and we want to continue with that
Saxenheim Workers’ Union	0	No	Religious belief and cultural tradition are important parts of many communities and should not be excluded from public life. Families should have the freedom to choose religious education for their children, and long-established faith schools should continue to receive support as long as they meet national educational standards.
Empty seats	5	Not voted

Bundestag

Passed

354Yes 53No 243Not voted 650 seats

For: 354 / 650 seats (54.5%)

Against: 53 · Abstained: 0 · Not voted: 243

50.1% of those voting must vote in favour (actual = 87.0%)

Party	Seats	Vote	Reason
Alliance For Digital Freedom And Rights Proposer	151	Yes	No reason given
Competence And Freedom	77	Yes	We support this proposal, since we agree that state funds should only go to secular schools and not favor any belief over another.
Homeland Alliance	0	Abstain	No reason given
Left Forward	126	Yes	Public education should belong to everyone. Children from different backgrounds learn together every day, and the state should treat them equally. That means public money should go to schools that are open to all and free from religious influence. Faith has its place in society, but the classroom should be a space where every child feels equally welcome, regardless of what they believe at home.
Saxenheim Republic	53	No	We entirely oppose this proposal as school is not just an area to learn academics also religion and faith cutting of the funds to faith school is definitely not a good thing for secular Saxenheim as the religious classes are not forced currently its just optional and which is good and we want to continue with that
Saxenheim Workers’ Union	0	No	Religious belief and cultural tradition are important parts of many communities and should not be excluded from public life. Families should have the freedom to choose religious education for their children, and long-established faith schools should continue to receive support as long as they meet national educational standards.
Empty seats	52	Not voted

Voting record

Every vote must state a public reason. Most recent first.

Homeland Alliance

Voted Sept. 14, 2019

Abstain

Saxenheim Workers’ Union

Voted Aug. 29, 2019

No

“Religious belief and cultural tradition are important parts of many communities and should not be excluded from public life. Families should have the freedom to choose religious education for their children, and long-established faith schools should continue to receive support as long as they meet national educational standards.”

Competence And Freedom

Voted Aug. 25, 2019

Yes

“We support this proposal, since we agree that state funds should only go to secular schools and not favor any belief over another.”

Left Forward

Voted Aug. 25, 2019

Yes

“Public education should belong to everyone. Children from different backgrounds learn together every day, and the state should treat them equally. That means public money should go to schools that are open to all and free from religious influence. Faith has its place in society, but the classroom should be a space where every child feels equally welcome, regardless of what they believe at home.”

Saxenheim Republic

Voted Aug. 25, 2019

No

“We entirely oppose this proposal as school is not just an area to learn academics also religion and faith cutting of the funds to faith school is definitely not a good thing for secular Saxenheim as the religious classes are not forced currently its just optional and which is good and we want to continue with that”