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Local Germany
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Germany
What parents in Germany need to know about the planned schools shake up
For years a lack of investment and ambition has hampered attempts to improve education in Germany. Enter Karin Prien (CDU), Germany's new and super-charged Minister of Education -- officially Minister of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Young People, or head of the BMBFSFJ -- with ambitious plans to reform schooling in Germany. Prien, who has years of experience in the field as a state education minister for Schlewig-Holstein, is determined to take advantage of the ministry's expanded remit to 'think about education holistically … and from the perspective of children and young people.' So what does this mean in practice? Here are the main planned changes that parents of school kids in Germany can expect. The expansion of all-day schooling With German schoolchildren falling behind their peers in other countries, according to PISA scores , and more and more families with both parents in full-time employment, the minister is determined to push ahead with plans to offer all-day schooling across the country. These plans were originally introduced by the previous traffic light government, and many schools have already started building out new canteens and other school buildings they need to offer all-day schooling. Unfortunately, as many of these projects have fallen behind schedule, the first bill Prien has brought before parliament (which was discussed on Thursday morning) will attempt to delay federal deadlines for all-day schooling by two years, to 2030. READ ALSO: How do pupils in Germany compare in international maths and science tests? More investment in early education, and mandatory testing In interviews, Prien has suggested that the number of children who start school with a poor command of German is responsible for the relative decline in educational achievement in Germany in recent years. With the goal of raising standards, and halving Germany's school dropout rate by 2035, Prien wants to introduce mandatory testing for children at the age of four. She has also talked about introducing mandatory support for children whom the tests identify as being behind in their development. During a recent speech, Prien stated that the federal government would 'invest billions in daycare centres and schools.' The minister has also announced her intention to relaunch the language daycares ( Sprach-kitas ), and extend the Starting Chance ( Startchancen ) programme in schools to Ki tas in socially deprived areas. Prien also wants to review nationwide quality standards for Kitas , with a view to placing more emphasis on education and less on childcare. Advertisement No more mobile phones in primary schools? Prien has taken issue with children spending too much time in front of screens. School children in Germany are among the world leaders in screentime, according to a recent OECD report which found that 15 year olds in Germany and Austria use electronic devices for an average of 30 hours per week. Prien has set her sights on minimising screentime from an earlier age. She has spoken out against the amount of time pre-schoolers spend in front of screens, and voiced favour for banning the use of mobile phones in primary schools altogether. State ministers of education are already looking at the issue. Prien intends to help them in their deliberations by providing better access to scientific studies, evidence, and analysis. READ ALSO: What are the rules in Germany on students having phones at school? Advertisement Integrating youth services and specialised teacher training However, halving the school dropout rate in the next ten years won't be possible simply through testing pre-schoolers, offering all-day schooling, and banning mobile phones. Prien also wants to invest in more support for children who arrive late in Germany's school system – and in additional training for teachers on how to cope with 'difficult and demanding groups of pupils.' She intends to take advantage of the expanded remit of her ministry to 'link youth welfare services more closely with schools,' in order to prevent pupils from falling through the cracks. READ ALSO: What having kids at a German kindergarten teaches you about the local culture
Local Germany
15-04-2025
- Local Germany
What's open and closed over Easter weekend in Germany
Easter is fast approaching with Easter Sunday falling on April 20th this year. But the holiday weekend kicks off a few days earlier on Good Friday (April 18th), or even Green Thursday (17th) for some. Many Germans may also take off some additional work days before or after the public holidays to secure a longer spring break. Families in particular often plan for a week or two of vacation to align with the school holiday period. If you're not planning a longer vacation yourself, you'll still want to make note of the public holiday dates that will see most businesses closed. (If possible, you'd be advised to get your holiday grocery shopping done well ahead of the weekend.) So if you're planning to be out and about over the Easter break, here's what to expect. Gründonnerstag or Green Thursday Gründonnerstag or Green Thursday (also called High or Holy Thursday in English) falls on March 17th this year. This is the day that Christian churches remember The Last Supper. READ ALSO: What exactly is Germany's Green Thursday? It's not an official public holiday, so shops remain open and in most companies work continues as usual. But it's not uncommon for Kitas to be closed on Thursday. In most states, the Easter school holidays have already started. One thing to remember is that grocery stores will be very busy on this Thursday as people stock up for the holiday weekend. Karfreitag or Good Friday Good Friday is a public holiday, or Feiertag, which falls on the 18th this year. In the German Christian tradition, this day is observed as a day of mourning for the crucifixion of Jesus. (The word Kar comes from old German Kara , meaning sorrow or grief.) Advertisement For this reason, silence and quiet reflection are expected on Good Friday - church bells are not supposed to ring and music is not played. In many parts of Germany, maintaining this quiet holiday means it's still illegal to dance on Good Friday . But how strictly this is enforced is another question. READ ALSO: From dancing bans to forbidden films: How strict are Germans over Easter? Most workplaces, as well as virtually all schools, will be shut for Karfreitag. Also supermarkets, retail stores and pharmacies will mostly be closed - so, again, make sure you have enough groceries at home ahead of the holiday weekend. The main exceptions are some grocery stores in major train stations that are allowed to maintain open hours on Sundays and holidays. Restaurants and cafes, however, are usually open on public holidays as are some kiosks, kebab shops and bars. Saturday On April 19th, life across the country will briefly resume as it would on any normal Saturday, because it's the one day that is not a public holiday during the four-day Easter weekend. Most shops will be closed again on both the Sunday and Monday, so Saturday offers your last chance to run to the grocery store for any last items you'll need for the rest of the holiday. Of course, you should expect that supermarkets will be busier than normal as many people will be doing the same thing. To avoid the crowds, try and go early if possible. A tree decorated with plastic Easter eggs. Photo: Ina Fassbender Ostern or Easter Sunday Supermarkets and businesses will of course be closed over Easter - but on Sunday in Germany, that is par for the course. Germans often spend this day with their families, so you can expect to see lots of people out in the city parks or nearby forests. Some families may engage in classic traditions like Easter egg hunts or attending an Easter church service. READ ALSO: 10 ways to celebrate Easter in Germany like a local Ostermontag or Easter Monday Easter Monday marks the end of the Easter holiday weekend and also the last public holiday of the set. This year it falls on April 21st. In the Christian tradition, this day is for the celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, who reappeared to Mary Magdelene and many of his disciples three days after his cruxifiction. Advertisement Practicising Christians take this resurrection as proof that Jesus is the son of God and believe that his death was to cleanse the world of sin. Once again, most businesses, including banks, post offices and supermarkets will be closed, and most employees will have the day off work. Hospitality businesses such as restaurants and bars, however, are likely to be open. What about public transport? Public transport runs throughout the holiday period, but on the public holidays most transport operators maintain a Sunday schedule. Nationwide travel services, operated by Deutsche Bahn or Flix Bus, for example, also operate during the holiday period. This year there is little to no threat of transport strikes during the holiday as transport companies and unions have just struck a deal for better pay and conditions. READ ALSO: How to navigate roads and trains in Germany over the Easter holidays Advertisement What about schools? Schools in Germany are closed on Easter Monday and Good Friday. Pupils also get a longer spring or Easter holiday. This usually lasts two weeks and is known as the Osterferien. The exact dates of school breaks vary from state to state. Chairs are stacked on top of desks at a school in Frankfurt am Main during the Easter holidays. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Arne Dedert This year many states - including Berlin, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg - have school holidays from April 14th until the 25th. But in Bremen and Lower Saxony, for example, the holiday began the 7th and ends on the 21st. For children in the city-state of Hamburg, things are a little bit different. Though pupils in the Hansastadt get the usual long weekend, their longer spring holidays take place in March instead, so they'll be back in school on Tuesday. READ ALSO: How employees in Germany can make the most of public holidays in 2025 Doctors, pharmacies and hospitals Doctors' offices and pharmacies are mainly closed on public holidays, such as Good Friday and Easter Monday. If you need non-emergency medical attention, however, you could still try calling your GP first in case they have a message letting you know the details of an on-call doctor. You can also contact the medical appointments service by dialling 116 117 if you have an urgent question about your health or need to find an emergency doctor. The 116117 website also has a directory for local medical offices near you. Advertisement In an emergency, call 112 for the fire brigade or ambulance or 110 for the police. Since most pharmacies will be closed, you should make sure you have enough medication to get through the public holidays ahead of time. However, if you do need something urgently, you can search for an emergency pharmacy on . Tourist attractions Many tourist attractions will be open as normal throughout the Easter period, including Good Friday and Easter Monday but some may operate altered opening hours. If you want to some sightseeing, be sure to check the attraction's opening hours before visiting. With reporting by Rachel Loxton.
Local Germany
08-04-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
Have we seen the last of the major strikes in Germany this year?
Industrial disputes can be like buses: you might not see one for a very long time, and then several turn up at once. That's exactly what happened in Germany this year. Back in January, a number of collective agreements expired, so trade unions like Verdi had to simultaneously negotiate a set of new contracts in the public sector. In the postal service, on Berlin public transport, in regional media outlets and in the wider public sector, workers all faced uncertainty about their future pay and conditions. For residents, this meant uncertainty about whether the buses would run, whether Kitas would open, and whether rubbish would start piling up in the Hinterhof . Luckily, two major conflicts that had dragged on for months ended amicably this week: on Sunday, a deal was reached for 2.6 million workers in the public sector, and on Monday, for the 16,600 employees of Berlin transport operator BVG . Here's a look the latest deals and the prospect of future strikes in Germany. Public sector employees The biggest deal negotiated this year concerned millions of local and federal government employees. As well as those in administrative offices, this includes workers in daycare centres, care homes, hospitals, schools, leisure centres and on local public transport, as well as in services like waste and sewage disposal. After an intense battle lasting more than two months, civil servants' union DBB and services union Verdi struck a deal with the government based on the recommendations of an arbitration committee. Advertisement The deal included a 5.8 percent pay rise over two years and increased bonuses for shift work, as well as either an increased Christmas bonus or three extra days of holiday per year. READ ALSO: Five things to know about Germany's public sector pay deal With the new contract running for 27 months from January 2025, we can now look forward to around two full years of calm: the next set of negotiations won't begin until March 2027. That said, there are a few workers - including state-employed teachers - who aren't covered by the agreement. This group are due to negotiate their next set of wage increases in autumn. Public sector strikes in Hamburg on February 13th. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Marcus Brandt Local transport in Berlin It took several rounds of negotiations and five sets of warning strikes, but Verdi scored a coup in its BVG negotiations. On Monday, the union and transport operator announced that they had reached a new pay deal, with BVG workers set to get an average of 15 percent more pay over two years. As well as €430 extra pay per month by June next year, the transport employees will also see a steep rise in bonus for shift work and their end-of-year bonus. By 2027, the two sides are also tasked with putting together proposals for a 35-hour working week. Advertisement With Berliners previously staring down the barrel of unlimited strikes, the deal is welcome news for commuters. The two-year term runs until December 31st, 2026, giving residents of the capital around 21 months of respite. READ ALSO: Berlin averts unlimited transport strikes as BVG cuts deal with union Deutsche Bahn Remember the Deutsche Bahn negotiations a few months back? No, us neither. That's probably because the rail operator reached a deal with union EVG within record time, and without a single warning strike. Back in February, the two sides struck an agreement for 6.5 percent more pay for some 192,000 rail workers employed by DB and its subsidiaries. Starting in April with a €200 one-off payment, employees are set to get a two-percent pay rise in June, followed by 2.5 percent the following year and a further 2 percent the year after. Rail passengers walk or wait at the main train station in Frankfurt am Main, Germany on March 12th, 2024, during a strike called by GDL train drivers' union. Photo: Kirill Kudrayavtsev / AFP This contract covers an unusually long time span of 33 months, meaning EVG won't be able to reopen negotiations until 2028. However, the train drivers' union GDL - known to be a far harder nut to crack - will be reopening talks on their collective agreement next year. A so-called peace obligation is in place until February 2026, meaning there's a guaranteed hiatus on strikes until then. After that, don't be surprised if you start to see the words " Warnstreik! " (warning strike) and " Zug fällt aus " (train cancelled) a lot more at train stations around Germany. READ ALSO: Deutsche Bahn pays out compensation to millions of rail passengers in Germany Postal service At the start of the year, Verdi was tasked with thrashing out a deal on behalf of around 170,000 postal and parcel delivery workers in Germany. Upping the pressure on DHL and Deutsche Post, the union called a series of warning strikes in January and February, leading to delays and disruption in mail delivery. READ ALSO: German postal service to cut 8,000 jobs At the start of March, however, the two sides announced that they had reached a deal for a five percent pay increase for workers and an extra day of holiday per year. This agreement runs until 2027, when a new set of negotiations - and possible strikes - will begin. Advertisement What conflicts are still ongoing? While most of the major industrial disputes appear to be out of the way for now, there is one ongoing battle that could affect life in Germany. Metalworkers' union IG Metall - the largest in Germany - is currently fighting on behalf of workers in the automotive industry. As part of its push a 6.5 percent pay rise, the union has called strikes at car dealerships and garages this week. From Tuesday through Thursday, it may be hard for motorists to find a spot for maintenance or repairs of their vehicle. Though the IG Metall dispute seems relatively small next to the BVG and public sector talks, it could well turn into a bitter conflict. Car owners could well be advised to sort out their maintenance check-ups quickly when garages reopen, because the next strike could come around sooner than you think.
Local Germany
26-02-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
How warning strikes are affecting Germany's postal service and daycare centres
Deutsche Post parcel centres across the country were closed through the evening and night shifts on Tuesday until Wednesday morning due to the latest warning strike called by the Verdi trade union. Employees in some regions will continue the strike through the day shifts on Wednesday. These strikes are occurring at selected parcel centres in: Freiburg, Pforzheim and Waiblingen in Baden-Württemberg, as well as in Celle and Göttingen in Lower Saxony, and in Bremen. Meanwhile in Cologne, municipal daycare centres are affected today as workers their have also walked out as part of a Verdi warning strike. Deutsche Post and DHL customers can expect that mail and parcels could be slightly delayed everywhere due to the overnight strikes, and could be more seriously delayed in regions where the strikes are continuing. This round of warning strikes comes as the union continues with negotiations for higher pay and more vacation time for postal workers. For postmen, parcel carriers and other DHL logistics employees the union is demanding a wage increase of seven percent and three extra vacation days each year. The postal service company has so far offered a 1.8 percent salary increase for the next 27 month contract, followed by a two percent increase later. It's also offered one additional day of vacation for those workers who have less than 30 per year (about two-thirds of employees). So far three bargaining rounds have not brought agreeable results. The next meeting between the union and employer representatives is set for Monday. Public sector strikes hit Kitas and city services Beside the postal service, Verdi has been organising a series of strikes among different groups of public sector workers. On Wednesday, many parents in Cologne have been affected by strikes by all employees at the city's 212 municipal nursery schools, or Kitas. City administration officials have said that many Kitas can be expected to close, or offer very limited care. According to a report by local news outlet Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, the timing of this strike has caused outrage among some parents as it comes ehad of Weiberfastnacht, a Carnival celebration in which children were to present long rehearsed performances. This week Cologne city administration workers had also walked out on Monday, as well as workers at a more limited group of Kitas. Also striking on Wednesday are the stages of the city of Cologne, which comprises the opera, dance hall and theatre, the Cologne Jobcenter, the Federal Employment Agency and the Cologne Baths. Similar Kita strikes are taking place in other cities in North Rhine-Westphalia such as Essen, Gelsenkirchen and Eschweiler. In Essen there are also further city administration strikes which may affect the city library, youth welfare and youth vocational assistance programs, and schools. Then on Thursday, numerous Kitas in Stuttgart will be closed, according to a report in the Stuttgarter Nachrichten newspaper. According to the city of Stuttgart, about 80 percent of the facilities will remain closed on strike days - Affected Kitas should inform parents ahead of the strike. Daycare centres in the eastern city of Chemnitz are also to be affected by strikes on Thursday, but the city has said it will not pre-emptively close any facilities as a precaution. Verdi's demands for all of these employees, which belong to collective bargaining agreements for public sector workers, is an eight percent raise or €350 more per month as well as three additional days off. Public sector strikes have also affected air travel this week. Warning strikes at Cologne/Bonn and Düsseldorf airports caused a number of flight cancellations on Monday. A two day strike at Munich airport is also planned to begin Thursday.
