2024

Improvement of German Learning Through the Formation of German Classes and German Language Courses

Regulations and legislative documents and evaluation

Status: implementation started in the 2018/19 school year; since April 2019, MIKA-D (Measuring Instrument for Competence Analysis in German) has been available as an instrument for nationwide use. In 2021 and 2022 the programme was monitored in order to optimize it. The ministry now intends to provide four additional hours of support per German support class. Ten million euros will be spent on this. Due to new regulations, the guidelines for promoting German were updated in January 2024 and published as a circular.

Sources: 

• Legislation
• Decree on curricula
• Decree on school readiness
• Decrees on Language assessment with MIKA-D (measuring instrument for competence analysis - German)
• Monitoring outcomes
• Guide to German language support

Main objectives and measures:

• Improvement of German learning for ex-matricular pupils with a mother tongue other than German through the formation of German classes and German language courses
• Target group-specific and accurate design of German support measures
• Definition of German competency as a school entrance criterion
• Objective and transparent determination of the extra-matricular status of a pupil and subsequently, the extent of German funding
• Promoting the language skills of children and pupils with special needs in the language of instruction German

Lack of knowledge of the language of instruction is a major obstacle to integration and further education and careers.

Diverse studies have shown in recent years that a significant proportion of students report clear deficits in German and that they are not covered by the current support system.

Pupils who have no or very limited knowledge of the language of instruction German when they enter the school system will be assigned to a German language class. The classification itself will in future be based on standardized language screenings. These should be applied bindingly at the school locations.

The opening of such is obligatory for at least 8 pupils at the school location.

Syllabuses will be prescribed for the new German classes.

• Primary school: 15 hours per week of intensive language training in the context of the respective 22 - 24 total hours per week according to the hourly table
• Secondary I: 20 hours per week intensive language training within the respective 28 - 32 total hours per week according to the hourly table

In addition to attending a German language class, these students are also expected to be part of the regular classes and to take part in regular subjects and activities (such as gymnastics, class and school trips)

The new German classes should in any case be designed for the duration of a semester.

Funding: € 40 mio / year

Involves Bodies and Monitoring:

Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research

2023

There have been no reforms.

2022

There have been no reforms.