GEW supports school strike against new conscription - German students strike against conscription despite legal risks on March 5

Students across Germany are preparing for a nationwide strike this Thursday to protest the reinstatement of conscription. The demonstrations, set for March 5, 2026, have gained backing from the Education and Science Workers' Union (GEW), which opposes mandatory military service for young people. Schools now face the challenge of balancing legal attendance rules with students' demands to join the protests.

The GEW has urged schools to work with striking students to avoid penalties. Some institutions have already agreed not to schedule exams on the strike day and will allow older pupils to take part. However, no federal state has officially cancelled tests for that date.

Under German law, school attendance remains mandatory, and missing classes for protests counts as an unexcused absence. Parents can request leave for their children, but if denied, students risk failing grades. The Saxony Ministry of Education has stressed that any demonstrations must happen outside school hours.

GEW chair Burkhard Naumann explained the union's stance, calling conscription unfair for young people. The organisation supports students' resistance and encourages local compromises. In Saxony, the GEW has advised schools to negotiate flexible arrangements, such as adjusting lesson times or avoiding disciplinary action.

The protests will go ahead despite the legal risks for participants. Schools remain responsible for enforcing attendance rules, though some have made exceptions for the strike. The outcome may depend on how individual institutions handle the balance between education policies and students' political engagement.