Should Germany limit the proportion of children with a migrant background in school classes? Education Minister Karin Prien considers such a "upper limit" to be possible, but the Teachers' Union is skeptical.
The experience of other countries
German Education Minister Karin Prien (CDU) believes that the idea of introducing a quota for children with a migrant background in school classes is "a possible model". On a TV show, she was asked how she viewed the example of Denmark, which has introduced a similar restriction in school classes.
Regarding the possible quota for students with migrant backgrounds, Prien said: “I think it makes sense to pay attention to the experience of other countries, regardless of whether it ultimately comes down to a quota of 30% or 40%.“ According to the minister, it is crucial that children who are accepted into first grade know German.
"Germany does not need quotas in classrooms"
The German government's commissioner for integration, Natalie Pavlik (SPD), is against limiting the number of children with migrant backgrounds in school classes. "Germany does not need quotas in the classroom," she said.
The president of the German Teachers' Union, Stefan Dühl, believes that the idea of quotas is fundamentally logical and good. However, he believes that its implementation would be problematic: "When there are around 90% of children in a class for whom German is not their mother tongue and whose German is too weak, the teaching model becomes impossible."
"Where can we get other children to ensure a more even mix"
He also draws attention to the fact that it is difficult for these children to improve their knowledge of German, since they do not use it at all outside of school hours and even speak to each other in their mother tongue during school breaks.
ARD quotes Düll as saying that in his hometown of Augsburg, nearly half of the population has a migrant background and asks: "Where can we get children to ensure a more even mix?". He also argues that from a pedagogical point of view, it is advisable for children from the same neighborhood to be together in school.
"There are also problems with children who have always lived in Germany"
At the same time, Education Minister Prien says that Germany has problems not only with children who have migrant roots. "We also have problems with children from families who have always lived here, with us", she says. According to her, this is due to the fact that upbringing styles have changed in the meantime. Prien appeals for greater responsibility on the part of parents.
"Education and upbringing are equally the tasks of parents, schools and other institutions," Prien said.