Alexander Poetzsch, the President of the Bund Deutscher Architektinnen und Architekten (BDA), has called for a shift in focus within Germany's infrastructure investment priorities, advocating for schools to take precedence over roads. He highlights the pressing issue of a nearly 70 billion Euro investment backlog in the educational sector, exacerbated by the historical view that infrastructure primarily encompasses roads and bridges, sidelining critical educational institutions. This perspective aligns with the urgency to prepare future generations for success amidst increasing debt and societal demands.

In light of a recent study by KfW, Poetzsch’s remarks stress that education should not be an afterthought in the infrastructure conversation. He argues that quality educational environments are essential for fostering excellence in education, research, and innovation, which are touted as central goals in Germany's coalition agreement. By recognizing schools as an integral part of the infrastructure mix, he insists on their rightful claim to the country's infrastructure special fund, ensuring that they receive adequate investment to promote the country’s future viability.

The implications of this shift could be profound, especially as Germany grapples with an aging infrastructure that often favors automobile-centric development. By prioritizing educational facilities alongside traditional road and transport projects, Poetzsch envisions a more balanced approach to national investment that could yield significant long-term benefits in workforce readiness and overall societal progress. This call to action might spark a broader dialogue on how to allocate resources effectively to meet the diverse needs of a growing and evolving population.