Britta Ernst

Britta Ernst is a German politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) serving as the Minister of Education, Youth and Sport in the state of Brandenburg since 2019. She previously held several political offices in her home state of Hamburg, including serving as Senator for Schools and Vocational Education. Ernst is married to the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz.

Early life and education

Born in Hamburg, she completed her Abitur at the Gymnasium Altona before studying political science and German studies at the University of Hamburg. During her studies, Ernst became involved with the Socialist German Student Union and later joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany. She completed her First State Examination and began her preparatory service for the teaching profession in the Hamburg school system.

Political career

Ernst began her political career within the Hamburg Parliament, where she served as a member from 1997 to 2001, focusing on education policy and social affairs. Following the 2001 Hamburg state election, she was appointed State Secretary in the Ministry of the Interior under Senator Ronald Schill. After the 2008 Hamburg state election, she became State Secretary in the Authority for Schools and Vocational Training. In 2011, following the 2011 election, she was appointed as Senator for Schools and Vocational Education in the first senate led by Mayor Olaf Scholz, a position she held until 2018. In November 2019, she was appointed Minister of Education, Youth and Sport in the state government of Minister-President Dietmar Woidke in Brandenburg.

Personal life

Britta Ernst is married to Olaf Scholz, who has served as Chancellor of Germany since 2021, Vice Chancellor of Germany from 2018 to 2021, and Mayor of Hamburg from 2011 to 2018. The couple, who have no children, met in the Jusos, the youth wing of the Social Democratic Party of Germany. They maintain residences in Potsdam and the Ottensen district of Hamburg. Ernst is known for keeping a relatively low public profile regarding her private life alongside her high-profile spouse.

Political positions

Throughout her career, Ernst has been a prominent advocate for educational equity and the expansion of all-day schools. In Hamburg, she oversaw the controversial introduction of the six-year primary school model. As minister in Brandenburg, her key initiatives have included addressing teacher shortages, modernizing vocational education in cooperation with organizations like the Federal Employment Agency, and implementing the DigitalPakt Schule in the state. She has also been involved in the Kultusministerkonferenz, working on nationwide policies such as the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in schools.

See also

* List of education ministers in Germany * Politics of Brandenburg * Cabinet of Olaf Scholz * Education in Germany

Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:Social Democratic Party of Germany politicians Category:Government ministers of Brandenburg Category:Members of the Hamburg Parliament Category:Spouses of German chancellors