As an incentive for children
FDP wants compulsory school grades from third grade onwards
September 24, 2023, 5:35 p.m
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Grades from 1 to 6 for achievements in math, German and art are part of everyday school life from fifth grade at the latest. However, this is clearly too late for the FDP. The party is calling for a nationwide comparable assessment of students – and “as early as possible”.
According to a media report, the FDP wants to advocate for a nationwide requirement for grades in German schools from the third grade at the latest. According to a report in the “Bild” newspaper, this emerges from a resolution recommendation for the party’s presidium. “Instead of foregoing grades and proof of achievement, we need school grades nationwide and as early as possible (from the third grade at the latest) at a high level that is comparable throughout Germany,” the newspaper says in the template.
In the paper, the FDP calls for a fundamental reform of the school system through more central control. According to the Liberals’ wishes, this should be made possible by an amendment to the Basic Law that transfers regulatory powers in the school and education sector to the federal level. “By changing the basic law, we should enable the federal government to carry out quality controls, comparative studies and success measurements for the 16 federal states,” says the draft resolution, according to “Bild”.
The FDP’s proposal is also likely to be a response to a position paper from the Left that was presented a few days ago. In it, the party calls for the abolition of school grades, homework and sitting. In Germany, according to the Basic Law, the federal states are responsible for the cultural and educational sectors and decide on the specific design of their school systems and curricula. The federal government only has a supporting role, for example by financially supporting the states in equipping schools with computers and the Internet as part of the so-called digital pact.
Educational federalism under criticism
The so-called educational federalism in Germany is not without controversy. There are always calls for a shift in competences that would allow the federal government to intervene more strongly in the educational policy of the federal states in the future. This is often in the context of studies on quality in schools, where differences in performance levels are repeatedly found.
Supporters, however, see significant advantages in the federal school system. It is more flexible and enables more innovation. According to “Bild”, the FDP also justifies its demand for compulsory school grades with the importance of performance incentives for students. Schools must “convey that it is fun to achieve goals using your own strength and talent,” the newspaper quoted from the draft resolution. They also allowed children and their parents to make better assessments.