Education in Germany

Who is responsible for education in Germany?

• The federal government

• Each of the 16 German states (Bundesländer)

• Local city councils

• European Union

What is the Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK)?

How does the German school system compare to the US in terms of complexity?

• Less complex, with fewer types of schools

• About the same complexity

• More complex, with up to five different kinds of secondary schools

• Completely uniform without any variations

What is the compulsory school attendance law in Germany?

• Instruction from age 5 to 15

• Instruction from age 6 to 16

• Instruction from age 6 until age 15

• Instruction from age 7 until age 14

Which type of school in Germany is aimed at students headed for college?

• Realschule

• Hauptschule

• Gymnasium

• Gesamtschule

What was the Gesamtschule reform?

• A reform to eliminate school tracking

• A reform to introduce a single school type for all students

• A reform to create a more inclusive kind of secondary school

• A reform to strengthen the traditional three-tiered system

Which groups resisted the Gesamtschule system in Germany?

• SPD and liberal parties

• Conservative CDU, teacher unions, and parent groups

• Students and young adults

• International educational bodies

What was the original idea behind replacing the old three-school system in Germany?

• To create a more inclusive education system

• To unify the secondary school system into the Gesamtschule

• To extend school hours

• To improve the quality of education specifically for disabled students

What is the main criticism of the German special education system according to the 2008, EU-ratified UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?

• It integrates too many students into regular schools

• It separates special-needs students, which may hinder their integration into daily life

• It lacks sufficient funding

• It focuses too much on physical disabilities

As of the text's publication, how have recent changes in some German schools altered the traditional school day?

• Schools now start at 10:00 a.m.

• Schools have removed extracurricular activities

• Schools offer full days of education with study hours and hot lunches

• Schools have shortened their hours significantly