2.3 Das deutsche Bildungssystem
The German Education System
The German school system (das deutsche Bildungssystem) is different from the Canadian school system in the following ways:
- Kindergarten is not part of the elementary school system but part of the daycare system.
- Students go to a version of elementary school from Grade 1 to Grade 4 only.
- Secondary school starts in Grade 5 and not in Grade 9.
In Grade 5, students have the choice to go to an academically focused secondary school stream (Gymnasium) or to a more practically oriented stream (Realschule oder Hauptschule). Gesamtschule combines all streams.
Students need to complete the Abitur (comparable to a high school diploma in Canada) at the Gymnasium, Gesamtschule, or an equivalent institution to be able to study at a University.
Here is a graphic presenting the above information on the German school system.
Image Description
The image depicts the different components of the German education system.
Students begin in Grundschule (elementary school) for a period of four years.
Grades 5 and 6 comprise the Orientierungsstufe, a period of orientation which determines which educational path a student will follow.
Hauptschule is a secondary path which commonly lasts until grade 9, Realschule commonly until grade 10, and Gymnasium commonly until Grade 12. Gesamtschule combines all options.
The Förderschule (special needs school) is available to students who require it from grade one until grade 12.
Click on the video below to learn more about German universities.
Video: German Universities: Studying In Germany, From Finance To Fraternities | Meet the Germans by DW Euromaxx [6:33] is licensed under the Standard YouTube License. Transcript and closed captions available on YouTube.
