The results are impressive: At the last meetings of the City Council and the Committee for Schools and Further Education, the administration gave a consistently positive assessment of the "Good Schools 2020" funding program. Between 2016 and November 2024, almost 21 million euros - in addition to other funds - flowed into Aachen's schools via the program. The funds were used to sustainably improve learning conditions in schools.

One focus: digitalization
One focus was on digitalization. The network infrastructure at many schools was massively expanded and, in particular, a comprehensive Wi-Fi network was installed. This now enables the reliable use of digital learning materials and has laid the foundation for the use of modern learning platforms and methods. In addition, the presentation technology at schools has been expanded: Interactive whiteboards, projectors and other digital presentation systems were installed in numerous schools to make lessons more interactive and future-proof.

"Traditional" construction measures
But money also flowed into "traditional" construction measures: Numerous new construction, conversion and extension measures have significantly improved the quality of school buildings. One focus here was on the renovation of toilet facilities. The science classrooms were also extensively renovated in order to provide modern and functional equipment for teaching. Several schools also underwent extensive modernization of classrooms and corridors.

Outstanding cooperation
The successful implementation of the funding programme was only possible thanks to the close and excellent cooperation between the various departments of the city - the Schools Department of the Children, Youth and Schools Division, the Municipal Building Management Department, the Digital Administration and IT Management Department - the schools themselves and the external service providers commissioned by the city.

"Gute Schule 2020", which was launched in 2016 to improve the infrastructure and digital equipment of schools in Germany, is not a traditional funding program, but rather what is known as "debt service assistance", which grants municipalities full assumption of their interest and repayment payments for loans from NRW.BANK. The majority of the measures have already been implemented by the end of 2022. However, remaining funds could still be used until November 2024.

Final report
The complete final report "Gute Schule 2020" can be found in the City of Aachen's council information system at https://ratsinfo.aachen.de/public, in the documents for the council meeting on March 12, 2025.