New school year begins for students in northern Germany

Students in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, are returning to school as the summer holidays conclude. For the majority of pupils, the new academic year commenced following the six-week break. However, first-graders are set to begin their educational journey on Wednesday.

According to the Ministry of Education, around 24,400 children will be starting primary school, with an additional 1,300 children entering the DaZ (German as a Second Language) basic level in primary education. Since August 1, all first-graders nationwide are entitled to all-day care, a service that municipalities are obligated to provide.

This academic year introduces new educational elements. First-graders will receive an extra hour of instruction in both German and mathematics. Additionally, a new "Democracy Hour" will be implemented for students in secondary education, covering grades five through ten at community schools and grammar schools.

The student population in public general education schools is expected to grow by approximately 6,800, reaching around 297,800 students. When vocational schools are included, the Ministry of Education estimates that approximately 373,000 students will be attending 797 schools across the state.