Nuremberg, Germany – In an unconventional bid to address chronic lateness, the Dürer High School in Nuremberg, Germany, has introduced a €5 fine for students who repeatedly arrive late without valid excuses. The initiative, led by Headmaster Reiner Geissdörfer, aims to curb unexcused tardiness, which he describes as a growing concern among students.
The policy, implemented earlier this year, initially stirred debates among parents, educators, and students. However, reports from the student council suggest the measure has been effective, with a noticeable decline in late arrivals.
Geissdörfer clarified that the fines are not punitive but rather a practical deterrent for students who appear indifferent to other corrective methods, such as discussions with parents, teachers, and school counsellors. “We’re not handing out punishments for the sake of it,” he explained. “It’s about fostering responsibility and respect for time.”
The fines, applied only to students in years 9 to 11 and used as a last resort, are imposed sparingly, ensuring that other interventions are exhausted first. This balanced approach has kept the initiative focused on behavioural improvement rather than financial gain.
While the measure has proven effective at Dürer High School, it raises broader questions about its applicability in other schools. Could such a strategy set a precedent globally, or will cultural and educational differences make it a uniquely German solution?
The debate highlights the growing challenge of addressing student discipline in innovative ways while maintaining fairness and inclusivity in education systems worldwide.
Jeopardising the future?
Above all, the introduction of the fine has led to greater awareness of the problem, the headmaster says.
The school now keeps a digital record of all students who skip class or arrive late, which helps to identify problems early on.
“By the time pupils start attracting attention, it’s usually already too late,” Geissdörfer says.
He estimates that some 5% to 10% of students are not interested in school to such an extent that it could jeopardise their chances of graduating, regardless of how gifted they are.
No reliable data is available in the state of Bavaria, where Nuremberg is located, on the number of pupils who are occasionally or regularly late to class or skip school.
It’s the responsibility of each school to record such offences, a spokeswoman for the state Education Ministry says.
In exceptional cases, the district administrative authorities could impose a fine at the request of schools or school supervisory authorities, she said.
Interest from other schools
In the case of the Dürer high school, that is the city of Nuremberg.
According to the school department, local schools reported students missing class around 1,500 times last year either due to being late or missing entire days, up from almost 1,250 the year before.
Before the coronavirus pandemic in 2019, that figure stood at around 800.
Geissdörfer says other schools have reached out to him to hear how the new measure is working out.
According to the German Teachers’ Association, when and in which cases fines are imposed for being late or skipping school varies from state to state.
The state of Berlin has tightened its regulations, says President Stefan Düll. After a student is late for class three times, they are considered to have missed a lesson which in turn could add up to a missed day.
After five missed days in a school term, the school can file a report with the education authority, which could result in fines.
“The Berlin measure is intended to send a signal that schools are no longer willing to watch,” says Düll.
No interest in school – but why?
According to experts, students are repeatedly late for school or skip class altogether for a number of different reasons – and that was true even before the pandemic hit.
However, Düll believes that school closures during lock-down may have contributed to some students losing interest in their education.
According to the Bavarian School Principals’ Association, the number of young people with mental health issues has risen sharply since the pandemic, which in turn could lead to school phobia or truancy.
However, Geissdörfer also thinks that schools share some of the responsibility, advocating for a shift away from exams and surprise tests in favour of more project-based learning, which encourages students to take an active role in acquiring knowledge.
And what do the students at the Dürer high school think about all of this? Has the threat of a fine worsened their relationship with their teachers and headmaster?
“No,” says a student representative who did not want to give his name.
“Many students were initially shocked,” he says, adding that their perspective shifted once the school management provided a more detailed explanation.
“The fine doesn’t affect most of the students,” he says. “It’s just a few individuals who were constantly late.”
Latecomers who interrupt the class in the middle of a lesson affect everyone, he adds.
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