Alarming language deficits: 65% of Bremen preschoolers affected!

Alarming language deficits: 65% of Bremen preschoolers affected!

In Bremerhaven, a current survey shows that an alarming 65 percent of preschoolers struggle with language deficits. This number is up from 55 percent last year. The Bremerhaven education authority has now published these results and the situation has become more serious. Among first graders, the rate of children with language deficits is as high as 62 percent. This is a clear sign that there is a need for action here.

The high number of language deficits is particularly noticeable in the districts of Gröpelingen and Blumenthal, where almost three quarters of the children in their last year of daycare are affected. The news that the number of children with language deficits in the Schwachhausen and Borgfeld districts has fallen is all the more pleasing. This could indicate improved language support measures in these regions. However, the language support rate for first graders in Bremen has only fallen slightly from 43 percent to 41 percent - a small progress, but not enough.

New approaches to language training

In order to counteract such grievances, Bavaria recently passed a new law to introduce mandatory language proficiency surveys. The so-called “Bavarian language screening of individual language needs – BASIS” is now being used across the board to record the language level of all children before they start school. An initial language screening should take place at primary schools 1.5 years before starting school. This screening, which is scheduled to begin in March 2025, is part of an effort to ensure that children who are not in state-funded daycare centers are also checked for their language skills.

Participation in the screening is not mandatory as long as parents submit a written statement from a daycare center certifying that the child does not have any increased need for language support. However, it remains crucial that children with an identified need for support attend a suitable institution with a preliminary German course.

Research and initiatives on language education

Research on language education highlights the immense importance of solid language development. Various programs, such as the BMBF meta-project “Linguistic Education in an Immigrant Society”, contribute to improving language education in Germany. This project aims to develop support tools for learners and evaluate existing language support measures. The “Education through language and writing” initiative is also the focus of current research work to promote coordinated language education in cooperation projects between daycare centers and schools.

Another contribution to language support is the federal program “Language Kitas”, which was founded with the aim of promoting everyday language education in daycare centers. It becomes clear that language education is not only crucial for individual development, but also for social integration.

These various initiatives and programs are a first step in the right direction. But the figures from Bremerhaven make it clear: There is still a lot to be done to improve the language situation of children and to ensure that no child is left behind. Changes are necessary to sustainably strengthen language support in early childhood education.

In summary: The challenges are great, but together the community, politics and educational institutions can make a decisive contribution to improving language education. Ultimately, this can lead to children not only learning the German language better, but also being better integrated into our society.

For further information and details on current developments in language education in Germany, visit butenunbinnen.de, stmas.bayern.de and fachportal-paedagogik.de.