The academic performance of German pupils has fallen sharply, according to a report by Berlin’s Humboldt University.
Of the 48,000 Year 10 pupils (15-16 year olds) tested, 34% failed to meet the minimum standards required for secondary school graduation.
This marks a steep decline compared with previous studies in 2012 and 2018.
The sharpest decline was recorded in the sciences—mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics. Twenty-five per cent failed to meet chemistry standards (a rise of nine percentage points since 2018), 24% fell short in mathematics, 16% in physics (up seven points), and 10% in biology (up five points).
Children from migrant backgrounds continue to perform below their peers, but researchers warn that the deterioration now extends across all social groups, including those from affluent, native German families.
The report calls for stronger language support in schools to help close achievement gaps.
Researchers identified the long COVID-19 school closures as a major cause of the decline. The study also highlights growing mental and social strain among girls—many of whom report feeling distracted by issues such as war, climate change, and social media—and less integrated within their school communities than boys.
Earlier this year, language tests conducted among elementary school children in the German state of Bavaria produced shocking results, with one in three children unable to speak German well enough to attend classes.
