German schools want to make sure that Ukrainian refugee children do not lose out on education. German states are preparing to admit the children to certain extra classes so that German is also taught as a foreign language. The point at which schooling for war refugees and asylum seekers in Germany is obligatory varies from state to state. For further information see Read More Button below.
Berlin is planning to set up welcome classes at vocational schools just for Ukrainian young people aged 16 and over. In addition, the Senate wants to set up more welcome classes in general schools. Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt) has also announced that it will initially teach refugee children and young people in special classes. After that, they would be integrated into rule classes. Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz) wants to offer German intensive courses and Ukrainian as native language lessons in schools. North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen) wants to offer refugee children in the welcome classes, above all, school psychological support, and they should also learn German. In Hessen the school authorities have set up reception and advice centers to coordinate the distribution of school-age refugee children. In Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), 815 children and young people from the Ukrainian crisis area had already been admitted to around 3,000 schools by mid-March. Bavaria (Bayern) is planning to set up so-called welcome groups for Ukrainian children and young people at schools with immediate effect. These groups should be set up across school types and mixed ages. The pupils in the welcome groups can attend suitable lessons in individual regular classes in phases – also depending on their talent and inclination. In this way, the groups could be interlinked with regular teaching activities if required.
Federal Ministry for Education and Research Federal Ministry for Education and Research