topic Education

Education in Germany 2012

Published every other year, the "Education in Germany" report provides information on developments in the education system. It is drafted by an independent group of researchers under the leadership of the German Institute for International Educational Research (DIPF). It was issued for the fourth time in 2012. Its feature chapter deals with the subject of "lifelong cultural, musical and aesthetic learning."

The report confirms a number of positive developments in the education system:

• The percentage of children under the age of 3 in education or childcare reached 25.4% in 2011 (2006: 13.6%). It has become commonplace for children between the age of 3 and 5 to attend a childcare facility.
• More than half of all schools are now full-day schools. This benefits children and young people from lower-income families, as full-day schools can offer a wide range of educational opportunities. They are an important place of cultural learning, often in cooperation with external partners. Full-day schools offer all pupils adequate opportunities for cultural activities.
• Educational attainment is rising continuously: the number of pupils who dropped out of school without a Hauptschule (secondary general school) certificate has continued to fall (2006: 8.0%, 2010: 6.5%), while the level of educational attainment of women has increased significantly over the last few decades. The number of young people entering higher education has risen sharply. At over 50%, it now significantly exceeds the policy target of 40% defined in the Qualification Initiative.
• The number of young people in the transition system has gone down significantly.

These improvements also apply to young people in disadvantaged groups. However, 28.6% of all children and young people were still affected by one or more risk factors in 2010 (compared to 32.4% in 2005). It is therefore important to provide targeted support to children and young people who grow up in unfavourable circumstances. To this end, the BMBF launched the Education Chains programme in 2008. It is designed to offer guidance and support to young people who need assistance during their transition from school to a job or apprenticeship. Another initiative sets out to improve the quality of teacher training. It aims to promote innovative developments in teacher training at universities so that budding young teachers are prepared as effectively as possible for their important work. There are also numerous activities in the area of continuing education. For example, the BMBF offers continuing education and upgrading scholarships to encourage talented people who already have a job to pursue further qualifications. The aim is to continue improving transfer opportunities between vocational and academic education and training.

Results in the area of cultural education are also positive. There is great interest in cultural, musical and aesthetic learning across all age groups. New media offer additional forms of expression for young people in particular. Providers of non-formal learning - such as music schools, clubs and choirs - play an important role in enhancing the variety and wealth of cultural education, as do self-directed learning activities.

To overcome the deficits that still exist in this area, the BMBF plans to provide significant support for cultural education. The funding initiative "Culture is Strength. Education Alliances" is designed to give disadvantaged children and young people access to cultural education. The "Cultural Education" dialogue platform at the German Arts Council will receive funding starting in summer 2012. It will provide the general public with information about cultural education opportunities and promote networking between numerous initiatives in this area.

Based on the central challenges identified in the report, the Federal Government and the Länder plan to strengthen existing measures and set new priorities (if necessary) in order to improve learning opportunities and enhance the quality of different parts of the education system, for example teacher training and language tuition.

Authors of "Education in Germany 2012"

The fourth "Education in Germany" report was drafted by an independent group of researchers under the leadership of the German Institute for International Educational Research (DIPF). The German Youth Institute (DJI), the Higher Education Information System (HIS), the Sociological Research Institute at the University of Göttingen (SOFI) as well as the Federal Statistical Office and the statistical offices of the Länder made substantial contributions to the report.

The National Education Report is a joint responsibility of the Federal Government and the Länder in accordance with Article 91b Paragraph 2 of the Basic Law. Its authors enjoy scientific independence in drafting the report, in consultation with a steering group in which the funding providers (BMBF and KMK) are represented.

The report and additional material and information are available online here.

Bibliographical details

Education in Germany 2012
An indicator-based report including an analysis of lifelong cultural learning
(Bildung in Deutschland 2012
Ein indikatorengestützter Bericht mit einer Analyse zur kulturellen Bildung im Lebenslauf)

Published by:

Authoring Group Educational Reporting
funded by the Conference of Länder Ministers of Education (KMK) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) 0W. Bertelsmann Verlag, Bielefeld 2012, 340 pages, €49.90
ISBN: 978-3763903177
available from bookshops