Open Source Software Coming to German Schools

Andre Duttmann

Digital Sovereignty
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With the recent announcement that six German states will be using Nextcloud as their digital school workspace, we once again see open-source software being combined with public tenders and commercial cloud solutions to bring digital infrastructure to the masses.

November 5, 2026 | Linux Association of Canada

Digital classrooms have become commonplace over the last several decades, whether through turning in homework, providing course materials, or simply allowing students to edit documents from home and on the go.

But there is one question that always comes up: Who will provide the infrastructure for our children's classrooms?

Well, it seems that Germany is going to be opening up that option to more people.

On November 3, 2026, German cloud provider IONOS and open-source software developer Nextcloud announced a partnership to provide a cloud solution that will be available to schools across six German states.

Not only will this allow schools to use a commercial cloud solution as an alternative to existing collaboration software suites, but it also proves that open-source solutions can compete for and win public tenders.

Germany Will Be Using Nextcloud Across Six States

These states include Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Rhineland-Palatinate, allowing schools across these regions to take advantage of the open-source solution.

KoDaS is being provided through govdigital eG on behalf of the six states, which want to offer their schools the opportunity to use a common digital workspace for students and teachers.

IONOS will be taking on the role of the prime contractor for this solution. It will be providing the infrastructure and migration services for this new digital workspace, with Nextcloud being the open-source software that powers it.

The deal can reach a total of €67.5 million over the course of four years. This figure, however, represents only the maximum potential spending under the tender.

Schools and other participating public bodies will be able to use the service, with spending depending on the number of active users.

There will be five tiers, ranging from up to 50,000 users to more than 500,000 users.

Other states may join the agreement in the future.

Having this type of solution available to states means they don't have to jump on board right away.

What Will Students Have Access To?

IONOS Nextcloud Workspace is what schools will be using, allowing students and teachers to access files and collaborate with each other.

The suite also contains office software and other groupware tools, meaning students and teachers can edit documents and communicate with each other.

Teachers can use this space to send out homework and collaborate with other teachers. Students can collaborate on group projects and learn about open-source software.

It isn't about giving them open-source software simply because it's open source. It's about providing a tool that can help with their everyday lives.

This can be difficult for schools, as they won't always have the means to run a cloud service themselves.

By using IONOS and Nextcloud, we get the best of both worlds: open-source software backed by a commercial cloud provider.

All infrastructure will be operated on German soil, and the companies claim to use only open-source technologies, with no dependencies on non-European cloud providers.

Schools will have access to a cloud solution without having to worry about running the underlying infrastructure themselves.

Why Not Just Have the School Run Nextcloud?

We often hear that you need to run your own infrastructure if you're going to use open source, which can be intimidating for some schools.

While it's true that a school can install Nextcloud on its own servers, there's a good chance it won't have the personnel or resources to maintain the system.

Having IONOS as a partner allows Nextcloud to be deployed as a managed cloud service, which removes much of that burden for schools.

We've seen companies do this in the past, providing Linux and other open-source services to businesses and schools.

By having Nextcloud and IONOS team up, we can expect more schools to consider taking advantage of open-source software in their classrooms.

More Than Just Open-Source Software

Of course, there is more to this story than simply using open-source software in the classroom.

When looking at the requirements for this tender, we can see that the software had to be licensed under an Open Source Initiative (OSI)-approved licence.

There were also measures put in place to help ensure the software would remain available over the long term and that schools wouldn't become dependent on a single technology provider.

This is a good thing to know. We don't want schools locked into one software provider when other options are available.

Schools may not have the funds to switch providers if they decide they don't like a particular solution. By having access to the software's source code, schools have more flexibility and are less dependent on a single company.

Of course, you still need to consider your files, information, and system compatibility when switching providers. But at least you have that extra peace of mind knowing the software is open source.

The tender also required certain qualifications from vendors, including security certifications and experience with multi-tenant solutions.

So, not only are we getting open source into the classroom, but we can also expect high standards from the vendors providing it.

Cost Savings?

When looking at the price of software for schools, we tend to think only about how much the software costs per year.

But there is a lot more that goes into having a digital workspace in a school, from implementing the solution and managing user identities to protecting systems from hackers, ensuring accessibility, and providing students with technical support.

Just because a solution is free doesn't mean it's cheap to operate. Likewise, paying a subscription doesn't necessarily mean a solution will cost more overall.

By having multiple states participate in this agreement, they may be able to reduce costs through shared procurement and infrastructure services.

Again, we will have to see how much money the German states actually save by using Nextcloud. There is certainly potential for cost savings, but the results will depend on implementation, adoption, and ongoing operating expenses.

At the very least, the agreement demonstrates that public institutions are willing to invest in companies that build their businesses around open-source technology.

That can only help strengthen the open-source industry.

Giving Students an Open-Source Mindset

Another thing to note about this story is that students will have the opportunity to learn about open-source software.

We always teach our kids to use technology, but do we teach them that there are other options?

By giving students access to different types of software, we can teach them that there is more out there than what they are used to.

They can learn about different file formats, data portability, and how to keep themselves safe online, all while using open-source software.

The Nextcloud announcement highlights this educational opportunity. As Nextcloud CEO Frank Karlitschek stated:

"Schools should teach digital skills, not dependency on individual technology providers."

We don't have to stop using closed-source software in our schools. But by introducing open source, we can open students' eyes to what is out there.

Maybe they will learn how to use different operating systems, different office suites, and understand why some software may be better suited to certain tasks than others.

What About Student Information?

Another concern that some may have is student information.

With students using digital workspaces to turn in homework and learn from each other, we need to make sure their information is safe.

Since the German states will be using IONOS as their cloud provider, the infrastructure will be hosted in German data centres, according to the companies' announcement.

This should ease some concerns about where student information is stored. However, data location alone doesn't guarantee privacy or security.

There are always things to consider when it comes to students and the internet, including who can access their information, how it is protected, and what happens in the event of a security incident.

We will have to see how this plays out once schools begin using the Nextcloud platform.

How Will This Affect Canada?

With schools spread across many provinces and territories in Canada, we may not be able to replicate this situation exactly.

But we can take some notes from how Germany went about providing this service.

There are many different solutions that can be implemented in Canadian schools, and some are already being used today.

We could start by looking at what companies can offer schools a similar service.

Whether through a Canadian company or another open-source provider, there are many ways we can bring open-source technology into our classrooms.

Not only could this provide a more affordable solution for schools, but it could also allow students to learn more about open source.

And it could create job opportunities for Canadians.

As we have already mentioned, students would have the opportunity to learn about open-source software, meaning they could become familiar with technologies used throughout the IT industry.

This could open the door to more careers in information technology, an area where the Linux Association of Canada can help through education, training, and community initiatives.

Final Thoughts

This is just the beginning of the journey for Germany and Nextcloud. We will have to wait and see how the initiative plays out across the participating German states.

Will schools continue to use Nextcloud in their classrooms, or will they eventually find another solution that better fits their needs?

Either way, this initiative gives us another example of how open-source software can become part of everyday education.

It also shows how commercial cloud providers and open-source developers can work together to give schools more choices without requiring them to operate complex infrastructure themselves.

As more educational institutions explore these options, we may see open-source software become increasingly common in classrooms around the world.

That could provide students with more opportunities to develop digital skills and give them the tools they need to succeed.

There are many ways we can improve our classrooms. One of them is by using open-source software.

Open Source Software Coming to German Schools