Sharp increase in right-wing extremist incidents at schools

There were significantly more right-wing extremist incidents at schools in Saxony in 2025. This is confirmed by figures from the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs, which were published following a minor question from MP Juliane Nagel (Left Party). According to the figures, schools reported 245 such incidents to their supervisory authorities. In the two previous years, there were slightly more and slightly fewer than 150 respectively. The number marks a long-term peak, it was said.

Nagel spoke of an alarming development. In parallel to internal school reports, the number of "right-wing motivated crimes" - the official term - in the context of schools has also risen in recent years. A record high of 185 cases was reached in 2024. The State Office of Criminal Investigation intends to publish the figures for the past year in March. "A closer look at the Ministry of Education's data already shows that in around two thirds of all school-related incidents, the threshold for criminal liability was exceeded and the police had to be called in."

Racist and anti-Semitic slogans

The cases listed by the Ministry mainly involve right-wing extremist slogans as well as racist and anti-Semitic slogans. Last December, for example, a pupil from Leipzig told classmates that "Jews should all be gassed". Also in December, a pupil in Glauchau said "Advent, Advent, a Jew is burning" in class. The Hitler salute was also repeatedly shown to other pupils.

In addition, there was violence against pupils and threats against teachers. In one case in Dresden in December, a teacher made "xenophobic" comments in class, according to the ministry's list. Just under a third of all incidents occurred in the three major cities of Leipzig (39 cases), Dresden (24) and Chemnitz (14).

Schools in 82 cities and municipalities affected

Nagel, however, speaks of an area problem. In total, schools in 82 different locations are affected. All types of schools appear in the statistics. Around half of all cases occurred in secondary schools (128), but even elementary school (35) are affected.

School staff are sensitized to incidents

"The careful documentation of the schools also shows that the staff are sensitized and that pedagogically appropriate action was taken in all documented cases. However, this is not enough to stem the trend," Nagel told the German Press Agency. As an immediate measure, the situation in schools should therefore be anchored in the state-wide "overall concept against right-wing extremism" - with a focus on stronger school social work, youth welfare and democracy education. "But instead of updating the concept, the state government is letting it gather dust."