Education in Germany - statistics & facts
Public spending on education in Germany has been increasing in recent years. Thanks to investment by the government, Germans enjoy a free education all the way to university. Even though in other countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom students must pay high fees in order to attend university, in Germany students are just required to pay an administrative fee each semester, which also usually covers a transport ticket, of around 200 to 400 euros.
The German education system is comprised of elementary, primary, and high school levels, followed by higher education in universities and universities of applied sciences. Typically, primary school is attended ages six through nine, secondary school from 10 to 18-19. Further education is developed through apprenticeships, vocational training, distance and e-learning, as well as adult education outside of the school and university system. All types of education in Germany are subject to federal state laws and reforms.
Germany has a well-established education system. There has been some criticism, however, that the secondary school system is too restrictive, as it affects whether or not children will have the opportunity to go to university at an early age. At the moment, however, there are no signs of the system changing, but this could be something that happens in the future.
Elementary education
Collectively, German day care is referred to as Kita. Kitas are split into nursery for children aged under three years, and kindergarten for ages three to six. It is not obligatory for children in Germany to attend, but the option is popular with many families. While day care is a solution for parents to be able to go back to work after the birth of a child and have their little ones safely supervised, it is also the place where children, sometimes starting from a very young age, are first exposed to regular contact with peers. Kita costs differ in Germany depending on the federal state.German schools
Primary school, or Grundschule in German, includes grades one to four, typically ages six to nine. The next step is secondary school. This includes several types of schools, depending on student goals, abilities and federal state education laws. The secondary general school, or Hauptschule, usually encompasses grades five to nine. However, many German states have eliminated this label and combined it with the other secondary school type, Realschule, from grades 5 to 10, to form the Gesamtschule, or comprehensive secondary school. These schools aim at a general education with practical courses, which qualify successful graduates for starting an apprenticeship or vocational training. The final option is academic secondary school, or Gymnasium. The emphasis is on academic learning and achievement, as a Gymnasium graduation certificate allows application for a university degree course.University
Whether due to interest in a certain subject, wishing to experience university life or hoping for better job prospects in the future, various reasons contribute to the popularity of applying to university. Student numbers have been growing steadily in recent years despite the pandemic. There could be several reasons for the increasing numbers of students for example the large share of degree programs offered at German universities are the internationally accepted Bachelor and Master. Another factor, as previously mentioned, is the lack of university fees, meaning a tertiary education is accessible to more people. There are also private universities for which students must pay tuition fees but they are much less popular.Germany has a well-established education system. There has been some criticism, however, that the secondary school system is too restrictive, as it affects whether or not children will have the opportunity to go to university at an early age. At the moment, however, there are no signs of the system changing, but this could be something that happens in the future.
