The Federation and the Länder agreed on the Starting Opportunity Programme (Startchancen-Programm). The programme aims to address the significant decline in skills development among many pupils.

In February 2024, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung – BMBF) and the Länder agreed on the Starting Opportunity Programme. This programme is the largest education programme in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany. 

The programme was launched on 1 August 2024 and will run for ten years, with both federal and state governments committing 1 billion euro annually in funding. The programme aims to enrich the activities of the Länder in increasing equal opportunities, decoupling educational success from social background, and establishing training maturity and employability.

Approximately 4,000 schools facing challenging situations are participating, which accounts for about ten percent, or 1 million, of pupils in Germany. About 60 per cent of primary schools and 40 per cent of secondary and vocational schools will be participating, primarily the vocational and training preparation courses.

The Starting Opportunities Schools will receive investments in better infrastructure and equipment that is more conducive to learning. It will also promote needs-based school and teaching development measures, alongside targeted support for multi-professional teams.

The programme will be scientifically monitored and evaluated.

For more information, see: https://www.kmk.org/fileadmin/pdf/Bildung/AllgBildung/Startchancen/2024_08_01-BLV-Startchancenprogramm.pdf 

Source: Eurydice Unit Germany (Länder)