The German school system
When the children are 2 years old and their parents would like to go out for work, their kids can attend a 2 year Nursery school. After this they can go to a Kindergarten for another 2 years. At the age of 6 Elementary or Primary school begins. Pupils must attend it for 4 years. They are taught in their mother tongue, reading, writing, maths, physical education, art, music, geography and biology. All the children have to attend the same type of school. At the end of the 4th grade their parents decide what future school their child will attend: special needs school, secondary school, secondary modern school, high school or comprehensive school. Schools number 1 and 2 last 5 years. The others last 6 years. New subjects are English, history, chemistry, physics, computer science and sometimes French or Russian.
So, in Germany, the school children do not all attend the same school as in the USA but 5 different schools according to their needs. Some people want the comprehensive school for all, but others do not accept this idea. After 5 years at the age of 15, the special needs school children and the secondary school pupils get their school leaving certificates, start their training on the job or attend a vocational school. The others take their O-Levels at the age of 16. Then they can decide if taking up an internship, attending the upper level or vocational school. The upper level is made up of the grammar school, the comprehensive school and the Upper school of Economics, Technology, Art, Social work or Administration. The students attend the school which they choose. Two years later, when they are 18 years old, they graduate and get their high school diploma(A-levels). Then they can attend university, an academy or a vocational school.
The German High school
German School Leaving Certificates
