- "Kita-Abitur": Awo wants money for language courses instead of tests
The Workers' Welfare Association (Awo), a major provider of kindergarten services, has sharply criticized the planned mandatory language tests before school entry. "We don't need a kindergarten Abitur in Bavaria, the draft must be withdrawn," emphasized Awo chairpersons Nicole Schley and Stefan Wolfshörndl. "What we need instead is a commitment to the individual promotion of all children, including the linguistic area, in the form of a sufficiently funded budget title."
The state government plans to determine the language level of children in a two-stage process before school entry: through a well-established language test in the second-to-last kindergarten year and through a language screening at school registration. If there are significant language deficits, either a mandatory pre-school year or attendance at language classes will be required. The mandatory language tests are to be applied for the first time to children who will start school in September 2026. The project is currently in the public consultation phase, where education associations and other experts can submit their comments.
Good language skills important for good grades
Awo's leadership also sees that sufficient language skills and academic success are interdependent. However, they ask: "Where will the state government find the required teaching staff for this project, given that many preparatory courses are already falling through due to staff shortages?" And this is not the only open question: Will delayed children then occupy kindergarten places for younger children? And what will happen if parents cannot even find a kindergarten place for their child? These questions show that the project "is not well thought out, but rather cobbled together," Schley and Wolfshörndl concluded.
Despite Awo's concerns about the mandatory language tests and potential staff shortages, there's a need to address language issues in children's education.aden If such concerns are addressed, Children's homes could also benefit from improved language skills of their residents. Providing language support in Children's homes could enhance their overall development and integration into society.
