Overview
- This week Bavaria confirmed it will add six hours per week to primary school timetables, with grades 1–2 getting one extra hour and grades 3–4 getting two extra hours.
- The change will raise weekly lessons to 25 hours in grades 1–2 and 30 hours in grades 3–4, meaning most pupils would finish classes around 1 pm.
- The ministry says the extra time will strengthen mathematics, German, sport and music, and that a previously announced extra sport hour for first graders counts toward the six hours.
- Officials estimate about 1,300 new teacher posts will be needed and say those jobs should be created within two years, but exact start dates and full budget approval remain under negotiation.
- Teacher associations welcome longer, steadier school days while the Greens and some unions demand mandatory assessment tools and clearer quality controls to ensure the added time improves reading and writing outcomes.