Suche
Mein Konto
Migration quota in schools: Who decides on the curricula?
Education Minister Oldenburg emphasizes the state responsibility for migration quotas in schools and the importance of language support.
Migration quota in schools: Who decides on the curricula?
In the discussion about the migration quota in schools, Simone Oldenburg, the Education Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and President of the Conference of Education Ministers, found clear words. She sees no area of responsibility for the Conference of Education Ministers when it comes to the upper limit for children with a migrant background. “Each federal state must decide for itself whether and how the proportion of migrants in schools is regulated,” emphasizes Oldenburg. This is reported by the Oldenburg online newspaper.
Compared to other federal states, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has a relatively low proportion of people with a migrant background. Oldenburg emphasizes the importance of funding opportunities to enable all children to learn the German language, especially through preparatory classes that are intended to make it easier for newly immigrated children and young people to start taking classes together. This is particularly relevant since over 40 percent of students in Germany now have a migration background, as the Integration Media Service informs.
A controversial debate
Integration Commissioner Natalie Pawlik (SPD), on the other hand, rejects such a limit. She is of the opinion that Germany does not need quotas in the classroom. Rather, it is necessary to invest in well-equipped schools. The President of the German Teachers' Association, Stefan Düll, speaks of an “ideal idea”, but sees hurdles in practical implementation. He points out that a high number of students without knowledge of German makes learning more difficult and wonders where the children should come from for a mix, especially in cities with a high proportion of migrants.
Challenges for refugee children
Another important point in this debate is the provision and integration of refugee children in schools. The 2024 microcensus shows that around 1.9 million foreign students belong to the overall school system in Germany, which accounts for 16 percent of the total number of 11.4 million students. This number has increased by 6 percent compared to the previous year. On average, refugee children wait 7.1 months after their arrival in Germany for school lessons.
Over 93 percent of 6 to 10-year-old refugees attend school, which represents a positive trend, but it also shows that 40.2 percent of 15-year-olds with refugee experience attend grades that are not age-appropriate. This has a noticeable impact on educational success, as the statistics make clear. The Integration Media Service notes that experiences of discrimination, such as poorer performance ratings, are a common topic.
In summary, it can be said that the issue of migration quotas in schools is complex and gives rise to different opinions. While some federal states want to draw clear boundaries, others focus on the integration and support of all children, regardless of their origin. In order to increase equal opportunities, investments must be made in educational offerings and, above all, school staff must be used to adequately take into account the diversity of the German student population.