Germany

education.qxd 15/12/2005 22:16 Page 44
EDUCATION
44
Education System
Sizing up the education system is one of the biggest challenges for parents
posted abroad. Here's what you should know about school in Germany.
Like almost every aspect of German social
policy, the education system is facing
major changes. This follows the publication
of a comparative international study
which showed German education standards
had slipped recently, sparking a
major debate about the need for overhaul.
At the moment, each of the 16 states
('Länder') operates its own school system;
these differ to varying degrees. The
Länder are also responsible for universities
and post-secondary education.
While students are held to high academic
standards and face regular oral exams,
education in Germany is a far cry from the
strict Prussian system some expats expect
and fear.
The curriculum may often be highly academic
in focus, however, with not too
much attention paid to more general interests,
such as photography or music.
NON-GERMAN STUDENTS
The grade foreign pupils are placed in
when they arrive depends on how well
they speak the language. Children who
speak no German at home and have not
attended a German kindergarten must
often repeat first or second grade.
As the number of non-German students
has risen, some adaptations have been
made. Children who were not born in
Germany or whose parents do not speak
German at home are offered preparatory
classes, bilingual classes, intensive courses
or remedial classes, depending on the
state.
Foreigners with children born and raised
in Germany often worry that their children
are losing their cultural roots. Some states
help these children with tuition for classes
in their parents' mother tongue.
SCHOOL HOURS
The school day starts at 8am and generally
finishes by 1pm. There are few extracurricular
activities, but there are school groups
such as theatre and sport associations, and
fee-based after-school and sometimes preschool
facilities for children up to about
age 12, sometimes in the school grounds.
VACATIONS
Children generally get six weeks of vacation
in summer, one in autumn, two in
winter, two in spring, and two in June.
STARTING SCHOOL
Most children start school at age six. Some
states have a cut-off date, such as 30 June;
a child born after this date is a 'kann Kind'
('can child') as opposed to a 'muss Kind'
('must child'). He or she can attend school
with slightly older children if he or she
passes a test, but is not obliged to.
Administrators generally discourage early
admissions on the assumption that even if
a child is ready intellectually, he or she
may not be ready socially or physically.
KINDERGARTEN
Before 'Grundschule' (primary or elementary
school), most children attend
'Kindergarten' (preschool.) It is not part of
the regular public school system and is
neither required nor free. Still, most three
to six-year-olds attend. Tuition fees are
usually based on income. Space is often
limited.
DAYCARE
A very popular form of day-care service is
provided, for a fee, at state-run 'Kitas',
continued on page 46
GERMANY EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE WWW.EXPATICA.COM