Language tests conducted among elementary school children in the German state of Bavaria have produced shocking results, with one in three children unable to speak German well enough to attend classes.
The situation is especially dire in the city of Augsburg, where two-thirds of first-graders lack the necessary German language skills to understand what is being taught.
The problem also exists in the second and third grade, where many children are unable to read properly.
The tests are part of a new programme launched by the state, which makes it compulsory for all kindergarten children to be tested before they enroll in school.
Children found to lack the necessary language skills have to take part in German language lessons.
The results are part of a wider problem in Germany: the massive scale of immigration combined with a lack of integration has resulted in a growing number of children unable to follow classes.
