CHAPTER 2 - East Germany

Abstract

This chapter discusses the education system in East Germany. Education in Germany before the Nazis came to power, as in West Germany today, was the responsibility of the Länder and, therefore, varied somewhat from place to place. Generally, though, it followed a standard pattern of early selection for high-standard secondary schools, with a terminal elementary school for those not so selected, and compulsory part-time trade-training for all young people up to the age of 18 who were not in full-time schooling. The main stages of schooling before the Third Reich were as follows: elementary schools, secondary schools, vocational schools, and higher education. The school system of the Nazi period came to an end with Germany's defeat and the temporary closing of the schools throughout the country. The present school system in East Germany has been canvassed for some time. Some of its features were foreseen in the Law of 1959, others assumed in later writings from authoritative sources. There has to be a period of transition from the old system to the new, and some features of the 1959 system are likely to linger until the transformation is complete; this is recognized by the Law, which provides for the gradual implementation of the reforms. The principal types of schooling under the new system are as follows: pre-school education, the basic school, secondary and vocational schooling, technical schools, higher education, and teacher training.