Münster is planning a new school system: increasing student numbers by 2034!

Münster is planning a new school system: increasing student numbers by 2034!

On May 27, 2025, a new school development plan was presented in Münster, which was highlighted by city director Thomas Paal as crucial for the future educational situation in the city. The plan was drawn up on behalf of the city by the Wuppertal Institute for Educational Economic Research (WIB Consult GmbH) and examines the developments in the school landscape over the last ten years. In particular, forecasts up to the 2033/34 school year as well as recommendations for action on adapting school organizational measures are formulated in order to prepare for the coming developments.

The school development plan highlights an important trend: the number of students is increasing. There was an increase from 9,890 to 11,486 students in the primary level from 2015/16 to the current school year 2024/25, which corresponds to an increase of 16%. At secondary level I, the number of students increased again by 11%, mainly due to the change in the secondary school course to nine years. Particularly relevant is the forecast that growth in the population, especially among 10 to 16 year olds, will have a significant impact on lower secondary education.

Regional structure of student numbers

The development of student numbers shows regional differences. A decline in the number of students can be observed in Münster-Mitte, -Nord and -East, while an increase is recorded in the Münster-West, -Südost and -Hiltrup city districts. In addition, it is predicted that Münster-Southeast will experience the largest increase and is already well prepared, among other things by increasing speeds at the new York primary school. A new school location project for the Hiltrup-Ost primary school is also being considered for Münster-Hiltrup.

The lower secondary level is expected to continue to see growth in secondary schools until 2033/34, which is likely to exceed existing capacity. The falling demand for secondary schools goes hand in hand with an increasing demand for comprehensive schools and grammar schools. Therefore, a new school location is being developed for a four-class comprehensive school in the southeast of Münster.

School development plan in a national context

The school development plan in Münster should not be viewed in isolation. A look at the nationwide student statistics shows that similar developments can also be observed in other federal states. The publication of the Conference of Ministers of Education provides an overview of the expected development of the number of students and graduates in Germany. This data is broken down by school type and educational area, taking into account both western and eastern German states and city states. According to the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs, the documentation is regularly updated to reflect the latest developments. (KMK)

In addition, the study by IW Cologne sheds light on the changes in the number of students between 2020/2021 and 2030/2031. The data is accessible on the Statista platform and provides detailed information on developments: Statista.

Overall, the city of Münster's new school development plan illustrates the need to respond to the dynamic changes in the school landscape and provides important impulses for a future-oriented education policy.