Berlin Schools Tackle Filth with New ‘KleanBerlin’ Digital Cleaning App
Berlin, May 6 – Sticky floors, dirty toilets, overflowing bins – cleanliness at many Berlin schools leaves much to be desired. This is set to change with the introduction of a new digital cleaning control app called ‘KleanBerlin’. The app, presented by Torsten Kühne, State Secretary for School Construction and School Digitalization, on Wednesday at the school on the old fire station in Niederschöneweide, aims to ensure cleaner learning environments for students.
How the ‘KleanBerlin’ App Works
The ‘KleanBerlin’ app empowers school caretakers, or ‘Hausmeisters’, to conduct daily inspections of school premises. Equipped with a service tablet, they will check a minimum of five randomly selected rooms within the school building each day. The inspection criteria include whether floors have been mopped, toilets cleaned, and bins emptied.
If a room meets the cleanliness standards, the Hausmeister assigns a green smiley on the tablet. Conversely, if deficiencies are found, a red smiley is issued. The app also allows for photos of the unclean areas to be uploaded, providing visual documentation of the issues. The inspection results are then immediately sent to the cleaning company responsible for the school. The company is required to rectify the reported deficiencies on the same day.
Should a cleaning company repeatedly fail to address reported issues, the respective district has the authority to reduce payments or even terminate the contract, ensuring accountability and adherence to cleanliness standards.
Six Districts Already On Board, More to Follow
State Secretary Kühne emphasized the importance of the new system, stating, “With KleanBerlin, we are creating binding transparency regarding cleaning quality and ensuring that deficiencies are consistently addressed. We are specifically investing in better learning and working conditions and ensuring that our schools become cleaner and more reliable step by step.”
Currently, six Berlin districts, including Treptow-Köpenick and Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, are utilizing the ‘KleanBerlin’ app. Two additional districts are expected to follow suit shortly, along with centrally managed schools. The goal is to implement the app in all districts by the end of the year. To facilitate this rollout, approximately 800 tablets have been provided to Hausmeisters across the city.
This initiative comes as many students in Berlin have long complained about the unsanitary conditions of school toilets and other facilities. The digital cleaning control system is a direct response to these concerns, aiming to create a more hygienic and pleasant environment for both students and staff.
The introduction of ‘KleanBerlin’ represents a significant step in modernizing facility management within Berlin’s educational institutions. By leveraging digital tools, the city aims to ensure consistent cleaning quality and a more proactive approach to maintaining school hygiene, ultimately contributing to a better overall learning experience for thousands of students.
