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Oestar - Comparative Education - Germany PDF
Oestar - Comparative Education - Germany PDF
COMPARATIVE
EDUCATION
Prepared by:
Jennifer M. Oestar
Student, Ph. D. Development Education
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• vacations:
• autumn (2 weeks)
• Christmas (3 weeks)
• Easter (2 weeks)
• summer (6 weeks)
Grading and Examinations
The grading scale used throughout the German
education system ranges from 1—6. (A "6" is the
equivalent of a failing grade). Teachers are
permitted to add a plus or minus in parentheses to
provide further differentiation.
1 = very good
2 = good
3 = satisfactory
4 = adequate
5 = poor
6 = very poor
Preprimary Education
German Kindergarten
• Common name:
Kindergarten
• Ages of attendance: As
early as age 3 to age 5
• Number of years: 1 to 3
• Compulsory: No
Primary Education
Common name: Grundschule/ Volksschule
• Ages of attendance: 6 to 9
• Number of years: 4
• Start of universal enrollment: Age 6
• Compulsory: Yes
• One main teacher who teaches many subjects and
then usually 3 others(I.e. music, art, and physical
education.)
• They learn to read and write
• Basic math
• Religion
• Social standards and values
• Music
• P.E.
• Art
• HSU (Heimat und Sachunterricht) which
combines biology, history, and geography.
Lower Secondary Education
Common name:
a. Hauptschule–General secondary school
b. Realschule–Enhanced general education secondary school
c. Gymnasium–Academic secondary school
d. Gesamtschule–Integrated secondary school, meaning that
students are not split into separate general education
and academic tracks
• Ages of attendance: 10 to 15
• Number of years: 5 to 6
• Universal enrollment: Yes
• Compulsory: Yes
• Entrance/exit criteria: In some Länder, admissions tests determine if a
student can take the education tracks of Realschule or Gymnasium
Hauptschule
• lowest-achieving students attend the Hauptschule.
• slower paced and more basic instruction in the same
primary academic subjects taught at the Realschule and
Gymnasium.
• Additional subjects at the Hauptschule have a vocational
orientation.
• students enroll in the Hauptschule beginning in the fifth
grade and continue their education at the Hauptschule
through the ninth grade.
• About 25 percent of German students attend Hauptschulen.
Realschule
• The Realschule provides students with an education which combines
both liberal and practical education from the 5th through the 10th
grade, but the emphasis is on liberal education.
• About 24 percent of German students are in Realschulen, and an
additional 7 percent are enrolled in combined Haupt/Realschulen
called Mittelschule.
• The education focus of the Realschule is differentiated between the
Unterstufe (lower level), which incorporates the 5th, 6th, and 7th
grades, and the Oberstufe (upper level), which includes the 8th, 9th,
and 10th grades.
• The lower level has a strong liberal arts emphasis, while the upper
level is more closely oriented to various disciplines.
Gesamtschule
• Known as comprehensive schools
• Arose out of a social movement in the 1960's that
promoted the idea of equal access to education for
everyone, and it is the school form most like public
schools in the United States.
• Most are located in states that have been governed by
the Social Democratic Party.
• Gesamtschulen enroll students of all ability levels in the
5th through the 10th grades. Students who satisfactorily
complete the Gesamtschule through the 9th grade
receive the Hauptschule certificate, while those who
satisfactorily complete schooling through the 10th grade
receive the Realschule certificate.
Upper Secondary Education
Common name:
a. Berufsschule–3- to 4- year vocational school, which
often includes an apprenticeship; many students at this school
attend part time while also doing an apprenticeship.
b. Berufsfachschule–1- to 3-year full-time basic
vocational school
c. Fachoberschule–2-year advanced vocational school
d. Gymnasium/Gymnasiale Oberstufe–Academic
upper secondary school. Gymnasium continues from lower
secondary school. Gymnasiale Oberstufe follows the same
curriculum as the Gymnasium, but comes after Gesamtschule
Ages: 16 to 18 (graduation generally at 19 for
academic programs; 18 or 19 for others)
Number of years: 1 to 4
Universal enrollment: Through age 17 students in long
programs turn 19 during the last year of upper
secondary school)
Compulsory: Until age 18
Entrance/exit criteria: Students must pass the Abitur in
order to enter university and other forms of higher
education.
• Upper secondary education provides students with a
liberal education and traditionally leads to study at
the university.
• About 30 percent of German students are enrolled in
upper secondary.
• The three most common education tracks offered by
standard here are classical language, modern
language, and mathematics-natural science.
• Students who successfully complete study and pass the
comprehensive examinations receive the Abitur.
Postsecondary & Tertiary
Common name:
a. Berufsakademie,
b. Fachhochschule
c. Universität
Ages of attendance: Varies
Number of years: Varies according to degree
Universal enrollment: No
Entrance criteria: Students must pass the Abitur in order to
enter university. Students must have at a minimum
Fachhochschulreife
(vocational upper secondary diploma) in order to enter the
tertiary sector.
Common Degree Programs
f0R lisTeniNg!!!