page_title: Education in Germany
section_title: Weimar Republic
hierarchical_section_title: Education in Germany / History / Weimar Republic
caption_attribution_description: Klassenzimmer im Burgmuseum in Wredenhagen (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) mit Gegenständen aus der Zeit von 1900 bis 1985, links eine bewegliche Schiebetafel, im Hintergrund Schaubilder und das Alphabet, in der Mitte ein Kartenständer Español: Clase con varias pizarras Svenska: Klassrum från 1930 中文: 1930年代德国的一间教室
context_page_description: Education in Germany is primarily the responsibility of individual German states, with the federal government playing a minor role. Optional Kindergarten education is provided for all children between one and six years old, after which school attendance is compulsory. The system varies throughout Germany because each state decides its own educational policies. Most children, however, first attend Grundschule for 4 years from the age of 6 to 9.
  Germany's secondary education is separated into two parts, lower and upper. Lower-secondary education in Germany is meant to teach individuals basic general education and gets them ready to enter upper-secondary education. In the upper secondary level Germany has a vast variety of vocational programs.
  German secondary education includes five types of school. The Gymnasium is designed to prepare pupils for higher education and finishes with the final examination Abitur, after grade 13.
  From 2005 to 2018 a school reform known as G8 provided the Abitur in 8 school years. The reform failed due to high demands on learning levels for the children and were turned to G9 in 2019. Only a few Gymnasiums stay with the G8 model.
context_section_description: After World War I, the Weimar Republic established a free, universal four-year elementary school (Grundschule). Most pupils continued at these schools for another four-year course. Those who were able to pay a small fee went on to a Mittelschule that provided a more challenging curriculum for an additional one or two years. Upon passing a rigorous entrance exam after year four, pupils could also enter one of the four types of secondary school.
caption: Classroom furniture from 1900 (left) to 1985 (right)
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