What did the education for children in Germany look like?

Education for children in Germany is compulsory between the ages of six and 18 years. Primary education typically begins at the age of six and it lasts for four years. At this level, children learn the basic skills such as reading, writing and mathematics. They also learn about the local culture and society.

During primary school, most children also learn a second foreign language, although this is not compulsory in all states. They usually choose between English, French, Spanish, Russian, or Latin. It is very common that primary school children go to a religious education (or ethics) class.

After completing primary school, most children go on to attend secondary school, where they will study for a further six to eight years. Secondary school is divided into three stages: lower secondary, middle secondary, and upper secondary.

Upper secondary school lasts from grades eleven to thirteen and it is not mandatory. There are 3 types of upper secondary schools in Germany:

- grammar schools (Gymnasium)

- comprehensive schools (Gesamtschule)

- vocational schools (Berufsschule).

The type of school a student attends depends on their academic ability and career aspirations.

Grammar schools are the most academically rigorous and they prepare students for university. They offer a wide range of subjects, including German, mathematics, science, foreign languages and social sciences.

Comprehensive schools offer a more general education and they are less selective than grammar schools. They also offer a wide range of subjects, but they may not be as rigorous as those offered at grammar schools. Vocational schools provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to enter a particular trade or profession. They offer a variety of programs, including automotive repair, construction, cosmetology, and culinary arts.

At the end of upper secondary school, students take a series of exams and depending on their results, they may be awarded.

- the Abitur (university entrance qualification), which allows them to study at university;

- the Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification), which allows them to study at a university of applied sciences;

- the Hauptschulabschluss (lower secondary school leaving certificate), which allows them to enter a vocational training program;

- or the Mittlere Reife (intermediate secondary school leaving certificate), which allows them to enter a technical college or a vocational training program.