German School System Overview

• In Germany, first day of school is celebrated with a "Schultüten" - a large cone filled with stationery and goodies for young children.
• The German school day traditionally runs from 8am to 1pm, but many schools now offer full days with extracurricular activities.
• German schools do not have a uniform and there are no homework restrictions at the weekends.
• Marking system goes from one to six with one being the best, but some secondary schools use a one plus system.
• Commonly taught foreign languages are English, French, and Latin.
• German schools have varying hours with some classes lasting only 45 minutes and others being double hours.
• Competitive sports between schools aren't a big thing.
• German school system is complicated, with education being the responsibility of state governments leading to many differences.
• Primary schools (Grundschule) run from grades one to four, followed by different types of secondary schools based on academic and vocational goals.
• Some states provide recommendations for secondary schools, but parents have the final say.
• Fewer than 10% of pupils attend private schools, with the highest percentage in eastern states.
• Homeschooling is illegal in Germany and children are seen to have a right to both education and socialization.
• Germany performs above average in PISA report in reading, math, and science but underperforms in equal opportunities for children from different social backgrounds and digitalization.
• Money has been promised to improve digital training for teachers and provide dedicated IT administrators and improved computer stock by 2024.
• School facilities and equipment vary greatly, with some having modern classrooms, libraries, and sports facilities, while others have poor conditions.
• Graduation celebrations after the "Abitur" exams include taking over the school, an "Abiturball" (prom), an "Abiturmottel" (motto), and an "Abiturfahrt" (trip).

Explore the unique aspects of the German school system, from the celebration of the first day with 'Schultüten' to the different types of secondary schools and the complex marking system. Learn about the educational structure, traditions, and challenges in German schools.