Education in Berlin
Encyclopedia
Education in Berlin covers the whole spectrum from kindergarten, primary education, secondary education, and higher education in Berlin. The German states are primarily responsible for the educational system in Germany.
, Realschule
, Gymnasium, or Gesamtschule. When parents were allowed to choose which of this schools their child applied for.
The Gymnasien often were heavily oversubscribed and awarded places to the students, who did best in primary school.
in German, mathematics and foreign languages has been marked centrally in Berlin, and five examinations have to be taken instead of four. Students starting in grade 7 in that year or later complete the abitur after twelve years
.
n), offering students a wide range of disciplines. Around 130,000 students attend the universities and professional or technical colleges. The three largest universities account for around 100,000 students. These are the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin with 35,000 students, the Freie Universität Berlin (Free University of Berlin) with around 35,000 students, and the Technische Universität Berlin with 30,000 students. The Universität der Künste
has about 4,300 students.
Schooling in Berlin before 2010/2011
After completing primary school, students progressed to one of the four types of secondary schools for up to six further years: HauptschuleHauptschule
A Hauptschule is a secondary school in Germany and Austria, starting after 4 years of elementary schooling, which offers Lower Secondary Education according to the International Standard Classification of Education...
, Realschule
Realschule
The Realschule is a type of secondary school in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. It has also existed in Croatia , Denmark , Sweden , Hungary and in the Russian Empire .-History:The Realschule was an outgrowth of the rationalism and empiricism of the seventeenth and...
, Gymnasium, or Gesamtschule. When parents were allowed to choose which of this schools their child applied for.
The Gymnasien often were heavily oversubscribed and awarded places to the students, who did best in primary school.
Reform of Education
In the future there will only be two types of secondary schools in Berlin:- the Sekundarschule: The Senate of BerlinSenate of BerlinThe Senate of Berlin is the executive body governing the city of Berlin, which at the same time is a state of Germany. According to the Constitution of Berlin the Senate consists of the Governing Mayor of Berlin and up to eight Senators appointed by the Governing Mayor, two of whom are appointed ...
decided that HauptschuleHauptschuleA Hauptschule is a secondary school in Germany and Austria, starting after 4 years of elementary schooling, which offers Lower Secondary Education according to the International Standard Classification of Education...
n, RealschuleRealschuleThe Realschule is a type of secondary school in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. It has also existed in Croatia , Denmark , Sweden , Hungary and in the Russian Empire .-History:The Realschule was an outgrowth of the rationalism and empiricism of the seventeenth and...
n and Gesamtschulen should be merged to become the new Sekundarschule. The Sekundarschule will be a comprehensive schools and serve students from a wide range of abilities. Depending how well they did in school, students graduating from a Sekundarschule will receive the HauptschulabschlussHauptschulabschlussThe Hauptschulabschluss is a school leaving certificate in Germany. The Hauptschulabschluss may be awarded to students who graduate from a Hauptschule or Abendhauptschule...
, the Realschulabschluss or the AbiturAbiturAbitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
. Class size for the Sekunddarschule will be 25 students. - The Gymnasium (college preparatory school). It was ruled that Berlin's Gymnasium should no longer be allowed to handpick all off their students. It was ruled that while they should be able to pick 65% to 70% of their students, the other places at the Gymnasien are to be allocated by lottery. Every child will be able to enter the lottery, no matter how he or she performed in primary school. It is hoped that this policy will increase the number of working class students atteding a Gymnasium. Class size for the Gymnasium will be 32 students.
Abitur
Since the school year 2006/2007, the abiturAbitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
in German, mathematics and foreign languages has been marked centrally in Berlin, and five examinations have to be taken instead of four. Students starting in grade 7 in that year or later complete the abitur after twelve years
Abitur after twelve years
after twelve years, or in eight years describes the reduction from the duration in the from nine to eight school years in many of the States of Germany. In the States Berlin, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern the reduction took place from seven to six years because, there, primary...
.
Schools in Berlin
Notable schools in Berlin include:- Französisches Gymnasium BerlinFranzösisches Gymnasium BerlinThe Französisches Gymnasium — Collège Français Berlin is a long-existing francophone gymnasium in Berlin, Germany.-History:It was founded in 1689 by Elector Frederick III of Brandenburg for the children of the Huguenot families who had settled in Brandenburg-Prussia by his invitation, being...
, Gymnasium - Canisius-Kolleg BerlinCanisius-Kolleg BerlinThe Canisius-Kolleg is a coeducational, private and Catholic Gymnasium in Berlin, Germany directed by the Jesuits. The school is named for Saint Petrus Canisius. It is known as one of Berlin's most prestigious schools.- Environment :...
, Gymnasium - Evangelisches Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster, Gymnasium
- Französisches Gymnasium BerlinFranzösisches Gymnasium BerlinThe Französisches Gymnasium — Collège Français Berlin is a long-existing francophone gymnasium in Berlin, Germany.-History:It was founded in 1689 by Elector Frederick III of Brandenburg for the children of the Huguenot families who had settled in Brandenburg-Prussia by his invitation, being...
, Gymnasium - John F. Kennedy School, BerlinJohn F. Kennedy School, BerlinThe John F. Kennedy School is a primary and secondary school in Berlin, Germany. It was established in 1960 under the name "German-American Community School" as a school offering integrated, bilingual education for both German and American pupils, to foster cultural exchange between young natives...
, primary and secondary school - Oberschule am ElsengrundOberschule am ElsengrundOberschule am Elsengrund is a school in Mahlsdorf in Berlin, Germany. The school was founded in 1983 as a school for Polytechnique. After the reunification of Germany it became a comprehensive school. This school moved away in summer 1993 and in August of the same year it became a gymnasium which...
, Gymnasium - Rütli SchoolRütli SchoolThe Rütli School was a Hauptschule in Neukölln, one of Berlin's poorest neighbourhoods. The school made news in 2006 when teachers wrote a letter to the senate office demanding the school be closed down, as they were no longer able to deal with violent youngsters.The letter was made public and...
, HauptschuleHauptschuleA Hauptschule is a secondary school in Germany and Austria, starting after 4 years of elementary schooling, which offers Lower Secondary Education according to the International Standard Classification of Education... - Nelson Mandela SchoolNelson Mandela SchoolThe Nelson Mandela School is a public international school in Berlin, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf.Classes are taught both in German and English. Primary school is from class 1 - 6, secondary school is from class 7 - 12 or 13...
, secondary school
Universities in Berlin
The city has four universities and numerous private, professional and technical colleges (FachhochschuleFachhochschule
A Fachhochschule or University of Applied Sciences is a German type of tertiary education institution, sometimes specialized in certain topical areas . Fachhochschulen were founded in Germany and later adopted by Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Greece...
n), offering students a wide range of disciplines. Around 130,000 students attend the universities and professional or technical colleges. The three largest universities account for around 100,000 students. These are the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin with 35,000 students, the Freie Universität Berlin (Free University of Berlin) with around 35,000 students, and the Technische Universität Berlin with 30,000 students. The Universität der Künste
Berlin University of the Arts
The Universität der Künste Berlin, UdK is a public art school in Berlin, Germany, one of the four universities in the city...
has about 4,300 students.