The planned start of construction for a learning building for the Dresden University School (USD) has been postponed once again. A new building is to enable the school experiment by TU Dresden and the City of Dresden to test and research the school of the future in appropriate premises. The school space plays a central role in the USD concept and its design, as it has a significant influence on learning and the organization of the school.
The current situation has prompted a public statement from the Dresden University School's Structure and Evaluation Commission. The committee of renowned educational scientists and experienced practitioners is clearly concerned about the stagnation with regard to the announced new school building. In addition to the tense space situation, it is also concerned about the lack of specialist rooms for biology, physics and chemistry, as well as a sports hall appropriate for the number of pupils, the rooms required for the tied all-day program and work rooms for the learning guides.
The container building (left) houses the classrooms for grades 1 to 6 and the canteen. The rooms for grades 7 to 10 are located in the old GDR building. Growth up to grade 12 is planned.New building not in sight until 2029/30 - research and learning under precarious conditions
The current deadline for the future school building is summer 2029/2030. On the one hand, this means unfavorable learning conditions for the students and staff, and on the other hand, it makes it impossible to research the conditions for successful learning and the role of space as a "third educator". The investigation of this factor, a declared goal of the public school experiment, is therefore hardly possible for the first 10 years of the 15 years of scientific monitoring by the ForUS University School Research Center at the TU Dresden. The current surveys can only show that learning can succeed despite unfavorable conditions.
Since the commission began its work, the committee has repeatedly appealed to the "Dresden University School Community of Responsibility" to secure the necessary resources for the future, always in the hope of finding amicable solutions and a corresponding commitment. In view of the very precarious situation, which significantly impairs school life and hinders the further growth of the school community, the Structure and Evaluation Commission urges that "appropriate construction measures should finally be started and planning security established."
