Students in German schools should undergo crisis training, senior conservative lawmaker Roderich Kiesewetter said Monday, as the specter of war haunts Europe.
“It is absolutely necessary to practice emergency scenarios, as students are particularly vulnerable and especially affected in such situations,” Kiesewetter, who is the deputy chair of the Bundestag’s intelligence oversight committee, told German business newspaper Handelsblatt.
“There should also be basic training on how to behave in disaster situations. This would also be wise and forward-thinking with regard to a possible national service,” he said, adding that this type of training already exists in Finland.
The remarks from Kiesewetter, who hails from the center-right Christian Democratic Union that is preparing to take power in Berlin, come shortly after the European Commission unveiled its own preparedness strategy for citizens as Russia menaces the continent and maintains a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The German interior ministry also called for stronger civil defense education in schools, noting that while educational content is the responsibility of federal states, the national government is prepared to offer support with materials for young people.
“In view of recent developments in the security situation, a stronger focus should be placed on civil protection, including in school education,” a ministry spokesperson told Handelsblatt.
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