This is how the German school system works
Do schools charge fees? Why is school compulsory? We explain the peculiarities of the German school system.
Unlike in other countries with compulsory education, parents in Germany are not allowed to teach their children at home. Here, school attendance is compulsory, and this is justified by the state’s duty to educate. Children usually start school at the age of six and attend classes for at least nine years.
How is the school system structured in Germany?
All children first attend primary school. In most of Germany’s states, they move up to a secondary school after four years, though in Berlin and Brandenburg this transition only happens after six years. Together with their child’s teachers, parents decide which type of secondary school is the best option. In some cases, the secondary schools on offer differ from one state to another.
After completing nine or ten years of schooling, young people can either start some form of vocational training or continue their academic education. The Gymnasium (a secondary school for more academic students) ends after the 12th or 13th grade with the Abitur certificate, the entitlement to study at a university.
The Hauptschule ends after the 9th school grade with the Hauptschulabschluss certificate, the Realschule after the 10th grade with the Realschulabschluss certificate. After that, young people can either start some form of vocational training or continue schooling. The Gymnasium ends after the 12th or 13th grade with the Abitur certificate, the entitlement to study at a university.
Do schools charge fees in Germany?
Publicly run schools with their high level of education are free-of-charge in Germany and financed by taxes. About nine percent of pupils are taught at private schools that charge fees.
Who bears responsibility for the schools?
Schools in Germany are not centrally organized, but are the responsibility of the regional ministries of education and culture in the 16 Länder. The range of subjects, curricula, certificates and transitions between the school types can be differently regulated in different Länder.
What are vocational schools?
Vocation schools in Germany are part of the system of dual vocational training available to school leavers. Trainees receive practical instruction in a company, plus theoretical education relevant to their future occupation at vocational schools. A course of training normally takes between two and three years.
How are the school holidays organised in Germany?
The dates of the school holidays differ between the country’s 16 states. Lasting six weeks, the summer holidays are the longest, though in most states the summer holiday period changes each year. For example, the holidays might be from mid-June to the end of July one year, and then from late July to early September the next.
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Everything you need to know about learning German online or studying for a degree in Germany online: https://www.deutschland.de/en/online-learning-in-germany
