School and education in Germany

The state and the 16 federal states

Under Article 7 of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz), the entire school system is under the supervision of the state. Private schools are nevertheless permitted. The 16 states are mainly responsible for school policy.

Each state shapes its own school system and has its own school law. The states coordinate common matters in the Standing Conference of Education Ministers (Kultusministerkonferenz). That is why rules such as the start of compulsory schooling can differ slightly from state to state.

Compulsory schooling

Children in Germany must attend school. Compulsory schooling generally begins in the year in which a child turns six. The states set the exact rules. Compulsory schooling applies in all 16 states.

Children of compulsory school age have a duty to attend. They must take part in lessons.

Parents are obliged to make sure their child attends school. Compulsory schooling is meant to give all children a shared basic education.

Religious education

Parents initially decide whether their child takes part in religious education. Article 7 of the Basic Law regulates this. From the age of 14, the child decides for themselves about their religious belief. This is set out in the Act on the Religious Education of Children.

Religious education is a regular school subject in state schools. Parents can withdraw their child from it. Many states then offer ethics or philosophy as a replacement subject.

At 14, a child is regarded as having reached the age of religious consent.

From kindergarten to the Abitur

From the age of three until they start school, children have a legal entitlement to a kindergarten place. This is regulated by § 24 of Book Eight of the Social Code. Kindergarten prepares children for school.

The Abitur is the usual route to university. It certifies the general university entrance qualification. There are other routes of access, though, such as recognised foreign qualifications. So the Abitur is the usual route, but not the only one.

A university generally requires the university entrance qualification. Anyone who does not have it may, in some circumstances, be admitted by other routes. Besides the Abitur there are other qualifications, such as the lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) and the intermediate school certificate (Realschulabschluss).

Catching up on the Abitur

Adults can also catch up on the Abitur. This route is called second-chance education. A typical institution for working adults on this route is the evening grammar school.

Age alone does not rule out this route, not even at 30. The states set the admission requirements.

At an evening grammar school you study alongside your job, usually in the evening. It generally leads to the general university entrance qualification, that is, the Abitur.

Adult education centres and further training

The adult education centre (Volkshochschule) is a public institution for adult education. It serves further education and lifelong learning. What it offers is not limited to religion or to particular age groups.

The courses range from language courses to job-related courses. Many people use them to acquire new skills or to develop professionally.

SourcesGrundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland↗Allgemeinbildende Schulen - Kultusministerkonferenz↗Kultusministerkonferenz: Zweiter Bildungsweg und Nichtschülerprüfung↗Bundesministerium der Justiz: § 24 SGB VIII – Förderung in Tageseinrichtungen und Kindertagespflege↗