PART lssues and Perspectives of Elementaryand Secondary Education
Chapter 3. Elementary and Secondary Education in Selected Countries
5. The Federal Republic of Germany
The Federal Republic of Germany is making serious efforts to
avoid the negative influence of the decrease in the number of pupils, resulting
from the rapidly reduced birth rate ; the avoidance of the abolition and merger
of schools and the securing of employment opportunities for teachers are among
the most difficult problems it is now facing. Regarding the content and mothodology
of education, at elementary level (Grundschule), the improvement of basic ability
in reading, writing and arithmetic is emphasized in addition to the emphasis
on discipline ; at upper part of secondary school (gymnasiale Oberstufe), in
order to recover the decline of basic academic ability due to the expansion of
elective system, the requirements in main subjects such as German, mathematics
and foreign languages have been increased. Moreover, computer science education
and environmental education have been promoted and vocational education and training
have been enriched. Teacher training programs for the improvement of their quality
are being carried out on new technology for teaching, educational methods and
content, in such areas as computer science education, environmental education
and education for foreign children.
Chapter3 5
lssues and Perspectives of Elementaryand Secondary Education