Muslim Life in Germany - Deutsche Islam Konferenz

Aspects of Integration 239
5.1.3.6 Participation in the integration course
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has been
carrying out integration courses in accordance with Section
43 of the Residence Act since 2005. These courses consist of a
language course (600 / 900 hours) to provide adequate proficiency
in German corresponding to level B 1 and an orientation
course (45 hours) to provide a knowledge of Germany’s legal
system, history and culture. 71 People who migrated to Germany
from third countries on a permanent basis after 1 January 2005
(so-called new entrants) have a statutory entitlement to attend
the courses. Those who do not possess a basic knowledge of
German (level A 1) and those immigrating to Germany to join
family members without an adequate knowledge of German
are obliged to attend the courses. Foreigners who have already
been living in Germany for a substantial period may be required
to attend the courses if special integration needs are identified
or if they draw unemployment benefit II. This category of
persons, along with EU citizens and Germans with a migrant
background, are additionally entitled to attend the courses voluntarily,
subject to availability. Ethnic German repatriates and
foreigners who have recently migrated to Germany have a legal
entitlement to attend the courses, without any obligation to do
so.
For the purposes of the study “Muslim Life in Germany”,
all persons without a German school-leaving qualification
were asked whether they had taken part in such an integration
course. 22 per cent of this group of persons stated that they had
attended an integration course (table 42). The proportion of
71 Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
(CEFR) confirms the ability to deal with everyday situations on one’s own, to conduct
a conversation and to express oneself in writing. For further information,
see http://www.integration-in-deutschland.de/