Anti-discrimination Counselling in School Contexts
Counselling Practices, Professionalization Processes and Clients' Experiences
Even though racist discrimination is ubiquitous in the German education system, there is a lack of comprehensive, binding legal and administrative frameworks to effectively protect parents and students against it. This is why parents and students often reach their limits when addressing racism at school. External anti-discrimination counselling centers are offering support: Due to the rising numbers of reports of racism, some counselling centers have become specialized in the expanding field of anti-discrimination work in school contexts. Thereby, they are contributing to the institutionalization of anti-discrimination work, that has taken place since the 2000s.
Mixed Method Approach
The research project sheds light on anti-discrimination counselling in schools in post-migrant Germany by drawing on a mixed-methods approach. It investigates counselling practices and the perspectives of students and parents who seek advice in view of racist discrimination and relates those perspectives to learn about professionalization processes in anti-discrimination work. Special attention will be given to conflicts that are constitutive to external antidiscrimination counselling and the support of parents and students who are experiencing racism. Further, the study pursues a comparative strategy by contextualizing the findings within legal and administrative frameworks as well as political discourses in four federal states in Germany, namely Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Thuringia.
Research Objectives
The project will contribute to current research on racism in the Germany education system and related experiences. Besides, it encompasses participatory formats that are designed to develop – in cooperation with (prospective) practitioners, parents and students – relevant work and teaching materials as well as recommendations to strengthen anti-discrimination in the education system.
Advisory Board
The project will be consulted by experts in the field of antidiscrimination politics, namely:
Aliyeh Yegane Arani, director of “ADAS, Life e.V. Berlin” – an independent counselling center that is specialized in antidiscrimination in schools
Elisa Calzolari, director of “MigraNetz Thüringen e.V.” – the regional association of migrant organizations in Thuringia
Andreas Foitzik, coordinator of the regional working group on antidiscrimination counselling in Baden-Württemberg and member of “Adis e.V.”
Sally Riedel, director of MOSAIQ e.V. Hamburg – an association with a focus on the critique of racism and critical youth work
Beate Seusing, executive director of the working group “Migrants and Refugees in Lower-Saxony e.V.”
Project period: January 15, 2026 – September 30, 2028
