Schools that prioritize academic achievement. - NRW Proposes Reformation of Sixth Form with Addition of Fifth Abitur Subject
Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia is undergoing changes in its upper secondary education system. Education Minister Dorothee Feller revealed a plan to incorporate new exam formats and introduce a fifth subject, Abitur, starting with students entering the upper secondary level in summer 2026, who will take their exams in 2029. The minister presented these key innovations at a conference on Wednesday, which were then approved by the Black-Green cabinet.
The heart of these reforms lies in the introduction of new, alternative Abitur exam formats. This includes, for instance, presentations that students would have to prepare in advance. Additionally, the focus is on strengthening special learning achievements and the possibility of replacing make-up exams with alternative forms of performance assessment. An upcoming fifth Abitur subject is also linked to these changes, which has been a common practice in many federal states for some time.
When contacted by dpa, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education confirmed that presentations refer to topics that students must self-develop and then present in their exams. The details of the reform will be fleshed out based on the main points, while legal regulations will be adapted accordingly. The opposition FDP hailed these reforms as "good starting points for the flexibility of performance provision." The ministry considers this to be the "largest upper secondary school reform in decades."
The background of these changes stems from the desire to make the Abitur in Germany more comparable across different states. In 2023, the Conference of Ministers of Culture of the States (KMK) decided on reforms to the "Agreement on the Organization of the Upper Secondary Level and the Abitur Examination." This move came after the Federal Constitutional Court had demanded better cross-state comparability of Abitur grades in 2017. Feller stated that within the KMK guidelines, NRW developed the main points of the reform.
Dirk Schnelle, the head of the school department in the ministry, noted that while these changes introduce "absolute innovations," there is a "balance between new and old and between necessary and desirable."
The key components of these reforms include new Abitur exam formats such as presentations or "Special Learning Achievements" that reflect crucial competencies for a future profession or study. To prepare students adequately, Klausuren (exams) in Abi preparations could be replaced with alternative forms of performance assessment. Furthermore, Klausuren duration in Abi preparations "can be reduced in a meaningful way."
Finally, introducing the fifth Abitur subject will expand options for prospective Abitur students, adding more methodical and academic choices and possibilities to combine their exam subjects. It is planned to introduce these in compulsory project courses.
The education ministry has had a year-long dialogue with all relevant actors, including student and parent representatives, teacher unions, and personnel representatives, to ensure a future-proof gymnasium's upper class. They also considered technical changes like AI usage.
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