Overview
- The education ministry reported 853 children with foreign roots still without a placement in early September, after 1,353 places were missing at the start of term.
- The ministry points to digital registration introduced in March 2024 and direct enrollment of newly arrived first-graders from the 2025/26 year as measures showing positive effects.
- If preparatory classes are full, newly arrived pupils can enter regular classes with additional German-as-a-second-language instruction promised.
- The GEW proposes precautionary reserve places so children are not left waiting weeks for schooling.
- Union officials say DaZ lessons are often the first to be canceled and report shortages of trained DaZ teachers, particularly in rural schools, urging expanded training and hiring.