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Survey Finds German Students Have Little Say in Class as Bertelsmann Calls for Participation Reforms

Greater involvement is tied to stronger democratic competencies, particularly at full-day schools.

Overview

  • 63 percent of respondents say they rarely or never help decide classroom topics, and 55 percent report little influence over methods or materials.
  • 41 percent rarely or never give teachers feedback on what they like or dislike about lessons, and only about half feel able to influence whole‑school decisions.
  • Participation is notably stronger at full‑day schools, while students at Gymnasien without full‑day offerings report especially limited input.
  • The foundation urges states to equip schools with binding student‑feedback instruments, more flexible curricula, and targeted training for school leaders and teachers.
  • The survey, conducted by iconkids & youth with 1,044 students aged 12–16 from November 8 to December 1, was released Thursday alongside calls for Länder and schools to act.