Diversity makes school: Inclusion in the service celebrated in Fulda

Diversity makes school: Inclusion in the service celebrated in Fulda

On March 11, 2025, a special service took place in the monastery church on Frauenberg in Fulda under the motto "Diversity makes school". The event was organized in cooperation between the Frauenberg-Franziskaner & Antonius and the Eduard Stieler School, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. The service was celebrated by Pastor Christine Surkau and Father Thomas Ofm and focused on the central topic of talents and individual talents.

The Eduard Stieler School, an educational institution that was founded in 1974 as a district vocational school Fulda and renamed in 1987, emphasizes the importance of diverse training professions. Currently, 612 pupils attend the full-time and 907 of the part-time area, whereby degrees such as the Abitur, the technical college entrance qualification and the secondary and secondary school leaving certificate are offered. The school specializes in promoting people with different backgrounds and pre -qualifications. In the school year 2024/25, the Intea program is supported, which will benefit young people with a migration background and increased language support. This shows the diversity of the student body, which is heterogeneous in terms of level of development, language levels and age structure.

Incoming insights into talent and inclusion

As part of the service, the “tree of life” was presented, where worshipers were able to represent their talents. The sermon contained personal statements about the importance of talent in life context, and testified to the conviction that all individuals will be able to play important roles in the community, regardless of their weaknesses. Headmistress Isabel Herbert concluded the event with a call to appreciate diversity.

Inclusion is not only a central aspect of the service, but also an important part of everyday school life at the Eduard Stieler School. Here, students are supported with disabilities in their education and are part of an integrative community. This school -internal funding hits a broader nerve of social inclusion policy that aims to reduce barriers and enable everyone, regardless of their skills, to enable equal educational opportunities. According to data from inclusion research, over 93 million people with disabilities at school age have no access to education, which underlines the relevance of such initiatives.

training and future prospects

The Eduard Stieler School offers a variety of training courses for people with disabilities, in cooperation with Caritas and Antonius, and has set itself the goal of promoting a society that appreciates diversity, tolerance and empathy. In 2015, the school form "Integration through Connection and Completion" was introduced, followed by the vocational school for the transition to training in 2017. The development concept not only promotes the professional knowledge of the students, but also their personal and social skills.

The ensuring of a minimum number of trainees remains crucial for the financing of certain job profiles. The range of training positions in Fulda is currently very limited, with an average ratio of three training positions per trainee. Therefore, adapting to the needs of the economy, coupled with sustainable educational concepts, is indispensable.

Overall, the Eduard Stieler School ties important connections between education, inclusion and social participation and is actively committed to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to discover, develop and bring them into the community. The event on Frauenberg forms a successful setting for this exchange and reflection on the values ​​and visions that an inclusive society needs.