Statutory Basis : Germany

According to Article 7 of the Basic Law, the entire school system is under the supervision of the state. On account of the country’s federal structure, that responsibility is shared by the federal and the state governments. Legislation and administration in the field of education predominantly fall within the purview of the states. This is true especially of the school system, higher education, adult education and continuing education. Common and comparable basic structures of the states’ school systems are ensured through the “Agreement between the States of the Federal Republic of Germany for the Standardization of the School System”. This agreement covers such matters as compulsory schooling, organization, recognition of certificates, etc.

The Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Lander in the Federal Republic of Germany (KMK) has adopted supplementary accords providing for greater harmonization of the school systems as well as recognition of certificates awarded by general education and vocational schools in all the federal states. These accords, which concern the restructuring of the upper stage of secondary education, uniform examination requirements for the Abitur examination, and mutual recognition of school-leaving certificates awarded by comprehensive schools, for example, ensure the necessary degree of uniformity and comparability of the states’ school systems.

One of the main tasks of educational policy after Germany’s unification was the reorganization of the school system in the new states on the basis of the pertinent agreements of the KMK. Following the adoption of the education acts by the state parliaments, the multi-track school system was introduced in the five new states at the beginning of the 1992/93 school year.