More and more children in MV: School enrollment is delayed to a record level!

More and more children in MV: School enrollment is delayed to a record level!

The trend towards deferring school children continues in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Education, the proportion of children deferred from school rose to almost 6.5 percent in the 2025-26 school year. In the previous year it was 5.5 percent, which represents a significant increase. The numbers came in response to a parliamentary question from AfD state parliament member Enrico Schult.

In order to check whether they are ready for school, all children must undergo a school entry examination. This examination examines, among other things, linguistic development, body coordination, fine motor skills and vision. These criteria are crucial in determining whether a child is ready for school.

Regional differences in focus

The provisions vary particularly greatly from region to region. In Schwerin, for example, the proportion of children deferred in the 2025/26 school year was an impressive 9.3 percent, followed by the Vorpommern-Greifswald district with 9.2 percent. The starkly contrasting picture is in northwest Mecklenburg, where only 2.9 percent of children were deferred from starting school. In the Mecklenburg Lake District the proportion was 4.7 percent.

Another important aspect is the different deadlines for school enrollment, which in the Federal Republic vary between June 30th and September 30th. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania the relevant deadline is June 30th. Children who turn 6 by this date are required to attend school. The possibility of early school enrollment also exists, but only at the request of the parents, which can also be observed in other federal states.

School enrollment examination and its importance

The school entry examination plays a central role in preparing for school. Parents should find out how registration at primary school and the relevant examinations work. Comprehensive information can be found on the federal state websites.

The increase in deferrals may have various causes, including parents' increasing sensitivity to their children's development and a general review of their suitability for starting school. This could also be partly due to the changed social conditions.

Nowadays, communication between parents and teachers is more important than ever, even if modern applications like WhatsApp may not have a direct connection to school readiness. Nevertheless, it can be seen that the use of such platforms is considered useful among parents to exchange information and discuss their children's educational journey. WhatsApp, the popular messaging app, now has over 2 billion users and is a valuable tool for quick exchange.

Overall, the data shows that the issue of school enrollment and the associated deferrals in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania remains an important social issue that poses challenges for parents and educational institutions.

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