Run-down schools, a lack of teachers - and the "Education Monitor" for the year 2025 shows deficits in both language skills and teaching quality. Many experts have long spoken of a blatant lack of education. What they also criticise: Unequal access to education is currently one of the biggest problems in our society. A whole cornucopia of problems - but what is the solution? And what - positive - influence can football, as the largest mass culture, have on this development? These questions will be discussed at the next 21-Talk "Die 4. Halbzeit" on 17 September at 19:00 at the German Football Museum. The panel is made up of high-calibre speakers and admission is free. Registration: as of now at 4tehalbzeit@fussballmuseum.de.

TV presenter Gregor Schnittker will be joined on the podium by Prof Aladin El-Mafaalani from the Technical University of Dortmund, one of Germany's most prominent education researchers. Hannes Wolf, former coach at Borussia Dortmund, VfB Stuttgart, Hamburger SV and Bayer Leverkusen, is the current DFB sports director for young talent, training and development. And Mirza Demirovic, the head of Dortmund's Nordstadtliga.

To this day, countless young footballers hope that their career in professional football will also lead to social advancement and better living conditions. What role does access to education play in this? Should young players put all their eggs in one basket and focus entirely on their sporting career? Or, in case of doubt, do school qualifications take priority?

On this evening, we want to discuss the extent to which organised football and the DFB should also get involved in the general education of their players. What power do educational researchers attribute to sport in general? Can football really still break through social barriers today? Or have the very different living conditions not long been cemented in sport, where talented players from wealthier families have better access to high-quality education as well as personal support and networks?

"Die 4. Halbzeit" is an event format organised by the municipal corporate group 21 in cooperation with the German Football Museum. The talks are dedicated to socially relevant issues and create a link to football.

• Photo 1 - Visitors at the 21-Talk (DSW21)
• Photo 2 - Hannes Wolf (Thomas Böcker/DFB)
• Photo 3 - Mirza Demirovic (Wübben Foundation)
• Photo 2 - Aladin El-Mafalaani (Jennifer Fey/J.F. Photography)